Glass City Jungle

At first I thought when reading U.S. awards Toledo $1.2M for police with the subtitle being, “Mayor says money to go for equipment, not officers” that the federal dollars could not be used for salaries, but that does not appear to be the case when you read the article:

Toledo’s Police Department will receive … $1.2 million of these economic stimulus funds,” he said.

The mayor said the city’s allocation also could be used to offset police overtime costs.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The federal Justice Assistance Grants for Law Enforcement are generally awarded to departments to hire and train officers and support staff, pay overtime, and buy computer technology and equipment.

I understand why the Mayor would prefer to get federal dollars to pay for new police hires under the COPS program, it pays for the salary costs of new hires for three years, but I also know from listening to the presentation given by Chief Navarre that many communities are applying for this funding and it is not a given that Toledo will get any money let alone is it clear how much. The deadline for applying for that grant (COPS program) has not even passed yet.

Isn’t it a bit premature to announce the 1.2 million dollars will be spent for equipment when we don’t know what the outcome will be for the COPS program funding? Apparently since this grant can be used to fund part of the salaries of those who have been laid off, which is not what was stated during the presentation, but is stated on the Department of Justice Website page for this grant (emphasis mine):

# There is no local match requirement for CHRP, but grant funding will be based on current entry-level salary and benefits packages and therefore any additional costs for higher salaries or benefits for particular individuals hired will be the responsibility of the grantee agency.

# CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for 3 years (36 months) for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.

*In addition, there is no cap on the number of positions an agency may request, but awards will be limited to available funding. Please be mindful of the initial 3-year grant period and your agency’s ability to fill the officer positions awarded, while following your agency’s established hiring policies and procedures.

Which means Mr. Wagner’s statement is not quite accurate and the Blade did not clarify this, though they used the same website I did.

Mr. Wagner on Thursday accused Mr. Finkbeiner of threatening to lay off officers so their salaries can be paid for through the federal government’s COPS grant.

The competitive grant provides 100 percent funding for entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly hired, full-time sworn officers or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off at a future date as a result of budget cuts, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Web site.

“That way, he can get current officers’ salaries funded for three years,” Mr. Wagner said.

The City can not get current officers’ salaries funded for three years, they can only receive the amount of salary and benefits that would be paid to new officers, any additional costs over that would have to be paid for by the City…