Parkland Florida shooting CCTV
© Broward County Sheriff's Office / ReutersCCTV footage of then-Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson during the Parkland school shooting.
The Justice Department has awarded a $1 million grant to Florida state and local law enforcement to cover expenses related to the Parkland high school shooting earlier this year.

The grant is intended to pay salary and overtime expenses for the first responders who arrived at the scene, according to a Justice Department release shared by ABC News.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the department "stands ready to help them in any way we can."

"The school shooting in Parkland shocked and horrified the nation, but the community and law enforcement at all levels have shown resilience and determination," Sessions said. "Today we offer $1 million to support the police who have been working overtime in the aftermath of this tragedy."

"They can be sure about this: we have their backs," he added.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance encouraged the state law enforcement to apply for the grant to address the still-mounting expenses, which have totaled several million dollars thus far, according to the release.

Broward County law enforcement, and Sheriff Scott Israel in particular, have been harshly criticized for their handling of the shooting after it was revealed that the department failed to address multiple warning signs and reports about the alleged gunman.

One deputy of the department resigned after a review found that he did not enter the school while the shooting was going on.

A gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, killing 17 people and injuring more than a dozen others.