PORT ANGELES — A three-year, $75,000 federal grant will allow the Port Angeles Police Department to hire an officer to help offset impending retirements, Police Chief Tom Riepe says.
“The new officer will bring our strength up to 30 commissioned officers,” Riepe said.
The Community Oriented Police Services Universal Hiring Program grant was approved by the City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
The grant will pay up to 75 percent of the officer’s yearly base salary and benefits to a total of $75,000 over three years.
Then the city will be required to maintain the position for at least one year beyond the three-year grant period of March 1, 2004, to Feb. 28, 2007.
The new officer hasn’t been hired yet because the entire process takes about a year, including recruitment, background checks, psychological testing and police academy training, Riepe said.
“We’re trying to get help with staffing because it takes a year to get an officer on the street and then five years before they become top-notch,” Riepe said.