News
$3.5 Million Available in Grant Funding to Add Police Officers to Tulsa's Streets
Mayor Kathy Taylor announced today she received notice from the
White House of the availability of $3.5 million in grant funding
for the hiring of 18 Tulsa law enforcement officers under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The award of the grant is contingent upon Tulsa City Council
approval and must be accepted in its entirety for the funds to be
allocated.
The grant will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the
federal agency's COPS Hiring Recovery Program.
The grant will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and
benefits for 18 entry level officer positions over a three year
period. Tulsa Police Department will then be required to
retain the grant funded positions for a fourth year.
"This is great news for Tulsa", said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.
"As we face significant budget constraints brought forth by the
national economic downturn, this grant award could go a very long
way in addressing our city's public safety needs. I look forward to
working together with our City Council in addressing the associated
out-year costs."
"I would also like to give recognition to Senator Inhofe,
Senator Coburn and Representative Sullivan in providing the needed
support and leadership in helping Tulsa to secure this
funding"
Director of Government Affairs for the City of Tulsa Stuart
McCalman said, "We were provided guidance by the Department of
Justice that, at most, recipients would receive $1 for every $8
requested due to the overwhelming number of applications
nationwide. Based on that guidance, we have actually received over
twice the amount that would have typically been expected."
The funding provides much needed support to state and local
government budgets, and will help the nation's law enforcement
agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more
effectively through community policing.
