TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program Grant for Three Police Officers in the Amount of $375,000 and Authorizing the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City
Recommended Action
Approve the application to U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program Grant for three police officers in the amount of $375,000 and authorizing the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
Background Information
The COPS Hiring Program Grant is a competitive grant program designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Outcomes include engagement in planned community partnerships, implementation of projects to analyze and assess problems, implementation of changes to personnel and agency management in support of community policing, and increased capacity of agency to engage in community policing activities.
North Port submitted an application for three sworn police officers. The grant will pay for up to $125,000 per officer for salary and benefits over a three-year period for a total of $375,000. If awarded, the City will provide matching funds for the rest of the salaries and benefits, estimated to be $349,479 over the same three-year period. After completion of the three year period, the City assumes responsibility to fully fund the positions.
The application was submitted on June 16, 2022. The City will be notified of the selection or denial of the award in the fall. If awarded, grant funds will be available shortly...
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