Sacramento, Stockton Agencies To Add Officers With Grant Money
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Sacramento law enforcement agencies will be able to hire 50 officers with more than $19 million in grant money being awarded Wednesday.
The Sacramento Police Department will receive an $8.1 million grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department is being awarded $11.3 million. Each agency is expected to add 25 officers.
The grants cover officers' salaries and benefits for three years. The local agencies are obligated to cover at least a fourth year of employment.
The grant will offset 42 reductions to the police department suffered in July as part of budget cuts.
"This is a big win in our efforts to continue to reduce the crime rate in Sacramento," Mayor Kevin Johnson said. "It feels like Christmas in September.
With devastating budget cuts in July, we had to watch officers turn their badges in for the first time in our city's history," Johnson added. "Now we have an opportunity to pin those badges back on our officers and get them back on the street. It's a great day for public safety, which must continue to be Sacramento's top priority."
The Stockton Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department also will benefit from the program: $7.8 for police to add 17 positions and $4.8 to the sheriff's department for 14 positions.
In addition, Fairfield Police Department is set to receive $1.8 million and the Placer County Sheriff's Department will get nearly $2.6 million.
An announcement is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday in Sacramento.
