COPS Program Helps And Hurts Mother Lode Law Enforcement Agencies
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Sonora-San Andreas, CA — The state funded COPS Program for the current fiscal year is both helping and hurting law enforcement agencies in the Mother Lode.
The COPS Program suffered a 10 percent budget hit for large departments which cost Calaveras County Sheriff Dennis Downum a computer specialist. Downum was forced to make a choice between that individual and the domestic violence specialist. Downum is hopeful of returning the computer specialist to the payroll once the 10 percent cut is restored next year.
The COPS Program did not strike a blow to smaller law enforcement departments. Therefore the Sonora Police Department and Chief Mark Stinson will retain one officer totally funded by the state.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
