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In an attempt to maximize all available funding sources, the Lockport, New York Common Council says it will seek the most police officers possible and use the highest salaries available in applying for a federal grant to hire five new officers. The city recently applied for a federal COPS grant, which will pay the full salaries and benefits for the new officers for four years. Lockport Police Lt. Douglas Haak, who is in charge of filling out the grant application for the Police Department, told the aldermen there's no point in trying to curry favor with the feds by "low balling" estimates of the officers' cost.
Lt. Haak said that last year, Niagara Falls, with a much higher population and crime rate than Lockport, asked for funding for 10 officers and received enough to hire just five.
Lockport asked for funds to hire two officers and was turned down flat.
"If I asked for five, I'd be crossing my fingers hoping for two," Haak told reporters with the Buffalo News. "I say we max it out. It's easier to give money back to the federal government than to ask them for more," Haak told reporters.
"Ask for the high end. I'm in favor of it," said Alderman Joseph C. Kibler when he heard the proposal.
The top of the pay scale for a Lockport police officer is $58,983.
Starting pay is about $15,000 less than that figure.
If the city does receive a grant, it must pledge not to reduce the size of the police force below the current 52 officers during the four-year life of the grant. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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