The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON - The Anderson Police Department has been awarded $1.5 million to hire additional officers through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced $1 billion in grants to law enforcement agencies across the country, according to The Associated Press. Grants have been awarded to 1,046 agencies in all 50 states, including more than $26 million for the hiring of officers of 126 officers in Indiana.
Anderson Spokeswoman Tammy Bowman said Mayor Kris Ockomon is out of town all week and would not be available for comment. Positions will be fully funded for three years, with departments expected to retain the positions for a fourth year.
The Muncie Police Department is scheduled to receive $1.16 million through the grant. But Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley said the city will not accept the funds because the city has no plan in place to pay for the fourth year.
"We're in a little difference situation than Muncie is in," Bowman said. "We want to know if we can use the funds for officers already hired or for those who are still in training to become officers."
Indianapolis will receive the largest allocation of grant funding at more than $11 million.
The act also includes $4 billion in Justice Department grant funding to enhance state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts, including the hiring of new officers, to combat violence against women and to fight Internet crimes against children.
Anderson Police Chief Darron Sparks said on Monday that the department reduced court overtime expenses from $10,814 in June 2008 to $7,878 last month. May overtime expenses fell from $20,107 in 2008 to $8,898 in 2009.
During a recent City Council budget hearing, APD Maj. Tony Waters said the department has tried to cut down on overtime used when officers' names are listed on police reports so they will be summoned to court.
"Guys are making part-time jobs out of going to court," he said.
Sparks said the department has cut down on overtime by using auxiliary officers and seeking help from other departments for large-scale community events.
In the past five years, APD has lost 12 officers, or 10 percent of its manpower.