news-record.com

GREENSBORO – The Greensboro Police Department has been awarded a $950,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department.

The money, which comes from the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, will be put toward equipping 30 new police officers the department hopes to add this year, said Sgt. Kevin Moore.

The department has requested another grant through the Community Oriented Policing Services Program, to pay the salary and benefits for the new officers.

That grant has yet to be approved and officials plan to see if they receive additional money before purchasing the new equipment.

“We are in a limbo state right now,” Moore said.

“We’ve asked for (money for) 30 (new officers.) They could give us 30 or they could give us one.”

He said the department should know how much money they will receive through the COPS grant by October.

The department typically receives between $200,000 to $300,000 annually through the Byrne JAG grant. The amount is based on crime statistics.

The amount is higher this year because of the additional funds allotted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com