Stimulus Money Used to Keep Cops, Hire Fewer New Officers
YAKIMA -- Plans to put more officers on the street have changed. Yakima Police expected to use stimulus money to hire seven-new officers. But KIMA learned that number has changed. And the department had to use some of the money just to keep the people they have. Which means we won't see all those new cops on the streets, despite the need.
Yakima homeowner Dan Hall said, "I know they've been taking the hits."
But Dan says he still believes Yakima police are doing a good job with what they have. And that's far less than before.
"We're moving back into a situation where we were years ago, where we were short-handed and every sign with the economy is we'll continue to be short-handed and we will just do the best we can with the resources we have," said Capt. Jeff Schneider.
Last July YPD was excited to be included in the federal COPS program, getting almost $2 million to hire new officers. Chief Sam Granato told KIMA he planned to hire 7 new officers and they'd be ready to go by the first of this year. But that didn't happen.
Five officers are at the Academy now. Three were hired with the stimulus money. The other two are replacing retired officers. Budget cuts have forced YPD to rethink how they can best use those stimulus funds.
Schneider said, "We're shifting stimulus funds over to pay for existing positions, so those positions don't get eliminated."
YPD had to take its changes back to Washington D.C. for approval, which it got. But may have to ask again to use more of that money to keep another 2 positions alive. Which means now YPD is down to just 2 new additional officers.
KIMA asked, "So you're looking at two officers that you'll put on patrol?"
Schneider answered, "And maybe not even two additional, because once you get into retaining positions, those already exist in patrol, so really we'll be able to do very little new with these stimulus funds in the end."
"They have to do what they have to do," said Dan Hall.
Capt. Schneider says it's disappointing, but better than losing four officer positions altogether.
It's important to note that the stimulus money pays the new officers' salaries for three years, with the city agreeing to pick up a fourth year. Right now YPD isn't sure if the city can even commit to that fourth year. And if Yakima can't hold up its end of the stimulus bargain, it can't apply for any additional stimulus money.
Yakima homeowner Dan Hall said, "I know they've been taking the hits."
But Dan says he still believes Yakima police are doing a good job with what they have. And that's far less than before.
"We're moving back into a situation where we were years ago, where we were short-handed and every sign with the economy is we'll continue to be short-handed and we will just do the best we can with the resources we have," said Capt. Jeff Schneider.
Last July YPD was excited to be included in the federal COPS program, getting almost $2 million to hire new officers. Chief Sam Granato told KIMA he planned to hire 7 new officers and they'd be ready to go by the first of this year. But that didn't happen.
Five officers are at the Academy now. Three were hired with the stimulus money. The other two are replacing retired officers. Budget cuts have forced YPD to rethink how they can best use those stimulus funds.
Schneider said, "We're shifting stimulus funds over to pay for existing positions, so those positions don't get eliminated."
YPD had to take its changes back to Washington D.C. for approval, which it got. But may have to ask again to use more of that money to keep another 2 positions alive. Which means now YPD is down to just 2 new additional officers.
KIMA asked, "So you're looking at two officers that you'll put on patrol?"
Schneider answered, "And maybe not even two additional, because once you get into retaining positions, those already exist in patrol, so really we'll be able to do very little new with these stimulus funds in the end."
"They have to do what they have to do," said Dan Hall.
Capt. Schneider says it's disappointing, but better than losing four officer positions altogether.
It's important to note that the stimulus money pays the new officers' salaries for three years, with the city agreeing to pick up a fourth year. Right now YPD isn't sure if the city can even commit to that fourth year. And if Yakima can't hold up its end of the stimulus bargain, it can't apply for any additional stimulus money.
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