VILLA PARK

The city will receive an estimated $14,800 from the Citizen’s Option for Public Safety program, otherwise known as COPS. The three-year program provides $100 million annually for new law enforcement resources at the local level. Villa Park will use about $4,500 of this year’s funds to pay off their share of a countywide state-of-the-art police communication system. The remainder will be held, according to Councilman Russell Patterson, while the city seeks input from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and residents on its best use. Patterson has expressed interest in using the funds for a new student alcohol and drug education program.