Kennett Police Department one of 14 agencies receiving stimulus funds

KPD is one of 14 law enforcement agencies in the state of Missouri to receive a portion of the $19.6 million through CHRP. Staff photo by Joshua Payne

The Kennett Police Department is one of only 14 law enforcement agencies in Missouri to receive a portion of more than $19 .6 million in federal stimulus funds through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP).

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill recently announced that the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of COPS will be providing the funds to 14 law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

CHRP provides funding to address the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. CHRP grants are used towards hiring or rehiring career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase the community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are providing the funds for Missouri.

According to the Department of Justice, the grants will support 118 law enforcement positions in Missouri. The money will cover 100 percent funding for entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn law enforcement officers or rehired officers who have been or are scheduled to be laid off as a result of local budget cuts.

Applicants receiving CHRP funds included Kennett Police Department awarded one officer at $93,965, Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners awarded 50 officers at $8,366,750, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department awarded 50 officers at $8,678,550, Parma Police Department awarded one officer at $75,776, Kinloch Police Department awarded one officer at $90,604, Bel-Ridge Police Department awarded one officer at $152,262, Berkeley Police Department awarded two officers at $316,492, Pagedale Police Department awarded one officer at $127,798, City of Independence awarded three officers at $543,393, City of Jennings awarded two officers at $305,074, University City awarded three officers at $559,785, Hollister Department of Public Safety awarded one officer at $112,609, Country Club Hills Police Department awarded one officer at $115,731, and Sugar Creek Police Department awarded one officer at $158,847.

Kennett Police Chief Barry Tate noted that the department has a lot of paperwork to be completed with the grant, but will be using the funds to hire one new officer. He noted that the officer will be hired as a community-policing officer, but can be used in different areas.

"This is a much needed addition to our department," Tate said.