A huge new round of stimulus dollars came in for Yakima Police. It could reduce crime and put people to work.

The city is getting more than one-and-a-half million dollars from a federal grant. The money comes at a time when we need it most, to fight this non-stop gang violence. " It's just very surprising sometimes as to who gets the money and who doesn't," said Yakima Deputy Chief of Police, Kelly Rosenow.

Yakima, Wapato, Sunnyside, Toppenish and Granger all received funding. The Yakima County Sheriff's office didn't get any funding this time, but was told it would remain on the Federal Community Oriented Policing Services program waiting list. But there's no waiting for YPD. They're already moving forward with plans to hire 7 new officers by the fall. Starting with two school resource officers for the Yakima School District. They're in negotiations with the district to find out where those officers will do the most good. Rosenow also said, " We want to look at enhancing our street level gang or GET team."

There could be four or five additional officers added there. And right now, that may be where they're needed most. We've had gang shootings every weekend now for a month, and more emphasis patrols are back on the street. But Rosenow says even his regular patrol officers are working overtime and need some help. The federal dollars will pay for 85% of these officers salaries for three years. After that, the city is responsible for keeping them on another year. " You start thinking about the funding on how you're going to retain them before you even apply for it. And if you can't do it, then you don't apply for it," said Rosenow.

For now the money is there. And the new officers could be on the street in just a few short months. Bringing relief to cops already out there, and hope to residents waiting for an end to this gang violence.

But it's not just the application for the federal grant that got us the money.
City council, the mayor and city manager actually flew to Washington D.C. to plead their case. " When the application was announced to us, we were literally in the office of the official making this decision, encouraging us to make application for these funds," said City Manger, Dick Zais. You can say they were at the right place at exactly the right time. And Zais says Yakima has a proven track record for using grant money effectively. A decade ago, YPD used the same grant to hire three officers. Those officers are still working today.