Argo Police Department recently received the COPS grant, a federal grant that provides money to police departments to hire new officers.

Police Chief Downing announced the award at last Monday’s regular city council meeting, saying the grant was a highly coveted one that is hard to come by and highly coveted by most police departments.

“Funding for police departments is hard to come by because they don’t get funding from Homeland Security like fire departments do,” Chief Downing said.

According to the grant guidelines, the local share the city is required to provide is a 25 percent match ($30,628.50), and the federal share is 75 percent ($91,885.50) for a total of $122,514.

“I think we can afford to handle $30,000 for what we are getting,” Councilman Bill Rutledge said.  “Our police budget should be a whole lot better for the 2012-13 fiscal year than it was for 2011-12.  This gives us flexibility.”

Funds will be allocated over a three-year period.  Federal share is $36,000 for the first year, $31,400 for the second and $24,486 for the third year.  Local share the city is required to provide is $7,100 for the first year, $10,300 for the second and $13,228 for the third.  The city will absorb 100 percent of the funds during the fourth year.

In order to receive the grant, the city is required to obtain a full-time office for one year and apply their $30,000+ share to pay the officer’s salary.

“We can hire an officer, a military veteran or retain someone we already have in the department,” Mayor Paul Jennings said.

The grant will receive final approval after the city submits a financial plan.

“Chief Downing and I are working out the details on the financial part of it,” Rutledge said.  “We have got 90 days to work out the financial details, and if we can’t the grant will not be accepted.”

Rutledge also commended Chief Downing and the city clerk, Andrea Jennings for putting in three years worth of work to obtain the grant.