The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Police grant to fund officers
The Lorain Police Department will add four police officers using a $1.21 million plan over the next three years.
The department will received a grant of $500,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS program. It assists departments with Community Oriented Policing Services.
The city must cover part of the costs of hiring the new officers. On July 20, City Council voted 11-0 to accept the grant, but noted the continuing budgetary concerns that pay for police and other city services.
Lorain Police Chief James McCann credited his predecessor, retired Chief Cel Rivera, with pursuing the COPS Hiring Grant.
The city will receive $500,000 spread over three years.
The money will cover 75 percent of officer costs the first year, then step down after that, McCann said.
The city’s contribution to the grant must grow as the years go on, he said.
“I know the funds are questionable right now,” McCann said.
But the department and city leaders also have time to consider the funding source because LPD has four officers in training right now and cannot accommodate any more, the chief said. He pledged to work with the city auditor and treasurer to see how police levy money is collected to move forward with more officers this year or next.
Lorain City Councilwoman At-Large Mary Springowski thanked the chief for his diligence in going after more money.
Ideally Lorain would have an officer in every ward, at all times of the day, to increase safety for residents, Springowski said.
“I’d like to thank you on behalf of the residents of the city for your diligence in this, and congratulations,”
Springowski said.
Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion returned to the point of the city match for the money.
“I just want to make sure that we are aware so we can find the resources,” Carrion said. “I’m not raising this issue to say that it’s not needed, it is absolutely needed. I’m just raising the question so we can be aware that there will be additional financial commitment from the city’s perspective.”
Every year, Lorain budgets for 100 officers, McCann said.
“We never seem to get there for unknown reasons,” he said. “But I stand here today telling you, I want to have a hundred officers at the minimum,” and will fight for that, the chief said.
McCann said he tries to be responsive to Council members’ concerns in the city.
But when officers are going from call to call to call, they don’t have time to do extra, proactive activities, McCann said.
He recalled times when the department could dedicate officers in a specialized unit to address street crimes, instead of responding to calls for service. That could happen again and would free some officers to address low-level, nonviolent issues, McCann said.
The chief admitted his pet peeve is cars parked in the grass — but officers don’t have time to deal with that.
The department roster has remained about 93 to 96 in recent years, McCann said.
The grant does not need to be implemented immediately, giving the city leaders time to devise a budgetary plan, McCann said.
But for the first year, the city adds four officers for the price of one, he said.
Over the next three years, the federal share of $500,000 for officers will be paid with $223,236.30 in year one; $190,584 in year two; and $86,179.70 in year three.
The city share is $717,495.44 to be paid with $179,373.86 the first year, $215,248.63 the second year and $322,872.95 in the third year, say city figures.