Vets to Cops Grant

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Sonora, CA - Sonora Police are looking for a few good VETs thanks to a grant. They say during Federal Fiscal Year 2011, they applied for a COPS Hiring Grant. They were unsuccessful in getting that grant. However, during Federal Fiscal Year 2012, only those law enforcement agencies that applied for the 2011 grant, and were not successful, were allowed to reapply for the new 2012 grant. Nationwide, 1,411 law enforcement agencies applied for the 2012 grant and only 221 were awarded funding.

The 2012 COPS grant had three categories to apply for; hire military veterans (Vets to Cops), rehire
Laid-off officers, or retain officers scheduled for lay off. Sonora Police say the department applied for and was awarded the Vets to Cops grant.

The grant requires the department to hire a new officer, which will fill an existing officer vacancy that is no longer funded as the result of budget cuts. The newly hired officer must be a military veteran, who has served in active duty, after 11 Sept., 2001, in any armed forces for a period of more than 180 consecutive days. They also must have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions. This position must be in addition to current budgeted level of sworn officer positions.

The grant will cover up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits of the newly hired full-time sworn career law enforcement officer over the three year (36 month) grant period, with a minimum 25 percent local cash match requirement. Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits are the responsibility of the City. Also, the City must retain the Vets to Cops funded officer position for at least 12 months after the 36 months of federal funding has ended.

Sonora Police say the approved budget is $358,099 with $268,575 being the Federal share and $89,524 being the local share, not including the fourth year which is 100% local funded.

The recruitment for this position will begin on 9 Aug. 2012. Applicants must possess a current Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) basic academy certificate and have met the above described Vets to Cops criteria.

Written by Tracey Petersen

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