ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Obama administration on Tuesday announced $1 billion in aid to help cities and states keep police officers on the beat during the economic downturn under the grant program Community Oriented Policing Services, commonly called COPS.

Of the 243 Missouri police agencies that applied for funding, 14 were awarded grants totaling nearly $20 million. Most of those receiving funding are in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

The grant award winners are the following:

-St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, awarded $8,678,550 for 50 officer positions.

-Bel-Ridge Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $152,262 for one officer position.

-Berkeley Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $316,492 for two officer positions.

-Country Club Hills Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $115,731 for one officer position.

-Jennings Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $305,074 for two officer positions.

-Kinloch Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $90,604 for one officer position.

-Pagedale Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $127,798 for one officer position.

-University City Police Department (suburban St. Louis), awarded $559,785 for three officer positions.

-Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, awarded $8,366,750 for 50 officer positions.

-City of Independence (suburban Kansas City), awarded $543,393 for three officer positions.

-Sugar Creek Police Department (suburban Kansas City), awarded $158,847 for one officer position.

-Hollister Department of Public Safety (southwest Missouri), awarded $112,609 for one officer position.

-Kennett Police Department (southeast Missouri), awarded $93,965 for one officer position.

-Parma Police Department (southeast Missouri), awarded $75,776 for one officer position.

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