Supplanting is defined as replacing state or local funds that otherwise would have been spent on law enforcement purposes with Federal COPS funds. You are prohibited from supplanting throughout the grant period. This means that you may not use COPS funds to pay for any equipment, technology, and/or support personnel that otherwise would have been funded with state or local funds regardless of the COPS program. COPS funds must instead be used to supplement your law enforcement budget. For further information, please contact the COPS Office Legal Division at 202.514.3750.

is to deliberately reduce State or local funds because of the existence of Federal funds. For example, when State funds are appropriated for a stated purpose and Federal funds are awarded for that same purpose, the State replaces its State funds with Federal funds, thereby reducing the total amount available for the stated purpose.

act of taking the place of another especially using underhanded tactics