Sacramento law enforcement agencies will be able to hire an estimated 50 officers through federal grants being awarded today.
The Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento Sheriff's Department will each receive enough funding to hire roughly 25 officers, federal officials said. The timing is particularly good for the city, which laid off 42 cops just three months ago.
The Sacramento City Police Department is receiving $8.1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The sheriff's department will receive $11.3 million.
Grant dollars provide the funding for salaries and benefits of officers over a three-year period. Agencies must retain the officers for at least a fourth year.
"This federal funding will strengthen our community law enforcement's ability to keep us safe, and ensure that budgetary shortfalls do not eliminate these critical positions," Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) said in a statement. "This is wonderful news for both the Sacramento Police Department and the Sheriff's Department, but especially so for the residents of the Sacramento region."
The grant awards were scheduled to be announced in Sacramento at 3 p.m. by Matsui and COPS Director Bernard Melekian. Other local officials, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, are also scheduled to attend the announcement.
Photo caption: Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announces federal grants that will allow Sacramento law enforcement agencies to hire an estimated 50 officers at a news conference at the Sacramento Police and Sheriff's Memorial. Photo by Paul Kitagaki, jr., pkitagaki@sacbee.com








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