AirWind23
03-26-2009, 07:10 PM
Police departments seeking stimulus funds
Lori Consalvo and Stacia Glenn, Staff Writers
Created: 03/25/2009 06:15:00 PM PDT
Several local police departments are looking to bolster their patrol ranks through $1 billion of stimulus money that is expected to trickle out of Washington, D.C., by summertime.
La Verne, Fontana, Montclair, Upland and San Bernardino departments have either applied or are in the process of submitting grant applications for the federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services' Hiring Recovery Program, which offers money for agencies to hire entry-level officers or rehire those slated for layoffs.
Ontario and Pomona are still reviewing the grant guidelines and requirements.
There is no cap on what agencies may request, and the grant will fund officers' salaries and benefits for three years. The department must agree to continue funding the awarded positions for at least a year beyond that.
"There are some catches that cities have to be aware of," La Verne Police Chief Scott Pickwith said.
The program, which is part of the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is expected to put between 5,000 and 6,000 more cops on the streets by the end of summer. The funds are scheduled to be awarded in July.
More than 2,600 law enforcement agencies nationwide applied for the competitive grant within the first week, said COPS spokesman Corey Ray. The application period ends April 14.
"Our intent is to look at areas that have the most need and are really dealing with a lot in terms of crime and the economy," Ray said. "We want to make sure dollars get to areas that need them the most."
Pickwith said his department is competing against other agencies throughout the country that are also facing tough economic times.
While La Verne is not planning to lay off any officers, it does have positions that need to be filled and will apply for the funding.
"The grant would be a tremendous boost to the department," Pickwith said. "(It) will allow us to put bodies back in," Pickwith said.
La Verne plans to ask for about $730,000 to fund the department's two vacant positions, a school resource officer and a patrol officer.
Fontana has already requested $1.8 million to fill five vacant positions. Montclair hopes to get a little more than $600,000 for two positions, which are funded until the end of June.
Those two positions are no longer on the budget unless Montclair can get the grant, Deputy Chief Chris Weiske said.
Upland hasn't committed to a number, but the department is looking into six officers and requesting close to $1.8 million. The city has not applied for the grant yet, but intends to do so before the deadline.
"Whenever there is a chance to compete, we'll be there," Upland City Manager Robb Quincey said.
The grant, which would fill positions that have been vacant for months and even years, would considerably help the department, officials said.
"Six officers for us is an entire shift," Upland Police Chief Steve Adams said.
San Bernardino plans to ask for $6.7 million to fund its department's 22 vacant positions, which includes five sergeants, six detectives and 11 officers.
San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said they plan to apply for some of the grant money, but were unsure Wednesday how many positions they would seek funds for. They have 70 vacant officer positions spread out among their contract cities.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11996670
Anything helps these days hopefully.
Lori Consalvo and Stacia Glenn, Staff Writers
Created: 03/25/2009 06:15:00 PM PDT
Several local police departments are looking to bolster their patrol ranks through $1 billion of stimulus money that is expected to trickle out of Washington, D.C., by summertime.
La Verne, Fontana, Montclair, Upland and San Bernardino departments have either applied or are in the process of submitting grant applications for the federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services' Hiring Recovery Program, which offers money for agencies to hire entry-level officers or rehire those slated for layoffs.
Ontario and Pomona are still reviewing the grant guidelines and requirements.
There is no cap on what agencies may request, and the grant will fund officers' salaries and benefits for three years. The department must agree to continue funding the awarded positions for at least a year beyond that.
"There are some catches that cities have to be aware of," La Verne Police Chief Scott Pickwith said.
The program, which is part of the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is expected to put between 5,000 and 6,000 more cops on the streets by the end of summer. The funds are scheduled to be awarded in July.
More than 2,600 law enforcement agencies nationwide applied for the competitive grant within the first week, said COPS spokesman Corey Ray. The application period ends April 14.
"Our intent is to look at areas that have the most need and are really dealing with a lot in terms of crime and the economy," Ray said. "We want to make sure dollars get to areas that need them the most."
Pickwith said his department is competing against other agencies throughout the country that are also facing tough economic times.
While La Verne is not planning to lay off any officers, it does have positions that need to be filled and will apply for the funding.
"The grant would be a tremendous boost to the department," Pickwith said. "(It) will allow us to put bodies back in," Pickwith said.
La Verne plans to ask for about $730,000 to fund the department's two vacant positions, a school resource officer and a patrol officer.
Fontana has already requested $1.8 million to fill five vacant positions. Montclair hopes to get a little more than $600,000 for two positions, which are funded until the end of June.
Those two positions are no longer on the budget unless Montclair can get the grant, Deputy Chief Chris Weiske said.
Upland hasn't committed to a number, but the department is looking into six officers and requesting close to $1.8 million. The city has not applied for the grant yet, but intends to do so before the deadline.
"Whenever there is a chance to compete, we'll be there," Upland City Manager Robb Quincey said.
The grant, which would fill positions that have been vacant for months and even years, would considerably help the department, officials said.
"Six officers for us is an entire shift," Upland Police Chief Steve Adams said.
San Bernardino plans to ask for $6.7 million to fund its department's 22 vacant positions, which includes five sergeants, six detectives and 11 officers.
San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said they plan to apply for some of the grant money, but were unsure Wednesday how many positions they would seek funds for. They have 70 vacant officer positions spread out among their contract cities.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11996670
Anything helps these days hopefully.