(AP) -- -
Federal dollars could equal safer streets in Kansas City, Missouri and three other metro cities. Millions came through from Washington which means a class of cadets in Kansas City will have jobs upon graduating next week.
Of the 243 Missouri police agencies that applied for funding, 14 were awarded grants totaling nearly $20 million. Most of those receiving funding are in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
Kansas City, Missouri is banking more than $8 million which is good news for communities hungry for more police protection.
At the police academy in the Northland, 27 cadets hoped they were destined for jobs in Kansas City. But, as the city budget crumbled, all bets were off.
As they studied how to spot a drunk driver in class on Tuesday, there was a sense of relief that the six months of training would actually bear fruit.
"I know this is what I'm meant to do, so I knew it would work out, I knew it in my heart," said Jennifer Arisman, KCMO Police Cadet.
The grant offers some job security too. It covers salary and benefits for three years.
Only 10 of the 85 Kansas communities that applied for federal stimulus funds to hire police officers will be getting any money. The $5.2 million in Kansas COPS funding is just over the minimum 5 percent each state is guaranteed through the program. Kansas agencies had requested $34.6 million to hire 205 officers, but will be receiving funding for only 29.
The grant award winners include the following:
Of the 243 Missouri police agencies that applied for funding, 14 were awarded grants totaling nearly $20 million. Most of those receiving funding are in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
Kansas City, Missouri is banking more than $8 million which is good news for communities hungry for more police protection.
At the police academy in the Northland, 27 cadets hoped they were destined for jobs in Kansas City. But, as the city budget crumbled, all bets were off.
As they studied how to spot a drunk driver in class on Tuesday, there was a sense of relief that the six months of training would actually bear fruit.
"I know this is what I'm meant to do, so I knew it would work out, I knew it in my heart," said Jennifer Arisman, KCMO Police Cadet.
The grant offers some job security too. It covers salary and benefits for three years.
Only 10 of the 85 Kansas communities that applied for federal stimulus funds to hire police officers will be getting any money. The $5.2 million in Kansas COPS funding is just over the minimum 5 percent each state is guaranteed through the program. Kansas agencies had requested $34.6 million to hire 205 officers, but will be receiving funding for only 29.
The grant award winners include the following:
- Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, awarded $8,366,750 for 50 officer positions.
- Kansas City, Kan., is getting about $2.4 million to hire 12 officers
- City of Independence (suburban Kansas City), awarded $543,393 for three officer positions.
- Sugar Creek Police Department (suburban Kansas City), awarded $158,847 for one officer position.
- Topeka will receive $1.1 million to hire seven
- Wichita, is getting about $409,000 to hire two officers
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