Lima scores funding for four officers with federal grant

LIMA — The city will receive nearly $790,000 to hire or retain four police officers, thanks to federal stimulus money that revives a popular policing support program.

Police Chief Greg Garlock intended to use the funding to hire additional officers, but may need it to save officers who would otherwise be laid off, he said Tuesday.

The department, along with all others in the city, took a 5 percent cut this year because of declining income tax revenue and has been put on notice it may need to cut more.

The city originally requested seven officers, but federal officials asked it to decrease the number it requested because requests were so high, Garlock said.

“We’re delighted,” he said. “We asked for four, but didn’t expect to get more than one or two.”

The funding was competitive, partly because of the economy and partly because the federal government is taking care of salaries and benefits for officers for three years. Departments must commit to funding the positions a fourth year, Garlock said.

The old version of the Community Oriented Policing Services program, created under President Bill Clinton, paid for portions of salaries but not benefits.

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced $1 billion in grants for hiring police from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Other police departments in the area receiving funds were Russells Point and Van Wert, each for one officer.