Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 117, No. 16	April 22, 2009

Area police agencies eye some federal stimulus funding

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Two area police departments are angling for some federal stimulus funding, which, if awarded would beef them up.

Muldraugh Police Chief John Stinebruner and Brandenburg Police Chief Jeff Cox each submitted funding applications.

Nate Hodson, a spokesperson for Rep. Brett Guthrie, explained the program was part of the COPS program which dated back to former President Bill Clinton.

“It was part of the Community Oriented Policing Services program,” Hodson explained. He said this program differed in the fact 100 percent of the salary and benefits are covered, whereby under the previous program, 75 percent was covered.

“The purpose of the program is to get the department to hire laid-off officers or those who might be scheduled to be laid off,” Hodson said.

Cox told city councilmembers April 14 this was only the beginning phase of seeking the grant.

Cox and Hodson both said this is a national grant program and agreed it was “very competitive.”

A total of $1 billion is expected to be awarded nationally, Hodson said.

“I think this would be a good idea to move forward on that grant,” councilmember Bruce Fackler said.

The consensus of the city council was to allow Cox and city Clerk Molly Janes to continue completing the paperwork.

If approved, the federal government would pay for a new hire for three years, with the winning municipality having to pay the salary and benefits after the grant’s expiration.

Cox felt the chances were pretty good the city could snag a grant, in part because they received another federal grant earlier.

He also said a new officer would take the stress off the present force when vacations arise.

In other grant news, it was announced the Muldraugh Police Department received a $4,100 Homeland Security grant which will be used to outfit officers with vests and tasers.

Cox announced his department received notice they were granted a Kentucky League of Cities safety grant, which is being used to outfit personnel with the new OSHA-mandated vests. These flourescent vests are required when personnel respond to roadway accidents, Cox said.

He also said the department has completed “about 95 percent of the paperwork for their Homeland Security grant. These funds will be used for the purchase of 11 hand-held and five mobile radios.

Cox told the council they’re seeking a state Homeland Security grant to allow upgrading of their bulletproof vests.

He also informed council city hall has a weather alert radio, causing Mayor David Pace to indicate the staff probably wanted to throw it out the window earlier in the day, as it was sounding with various alerts and warnings.

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