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Council packet shows application to DOJ COPS Hiring Program to hire 15 officers over four years
Summary
City staff said the Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program application would allow the city to hire 15 officers with federal funding covering most costs and a 25% local match over four years; no formal award was recorded in the pre-meeting discussion.
City staff told the Mobile City Council pre-meeting that the mayor is authorized to apply for and accept a U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program grant that would fund 15 police officers over a multi-year period.
When asked whether this is a new program, a police representative said the city previously had a 2020 COPS grant and that this application would allow hiring 15 officers for three years under federal support; the city would be required to retain the officers into a fourth year. “It will allow us to hire 15 officers, for the next 3 years,” the police representative said. The staff member added the total grant value is about $3.2 million and that the city’s match is roughly 25% of salaries across the four-year period.
City officials discussed headcount: staff said the city’s funded staffing level (FSL) for officers is 492 and that, based on recruiting and academy classes anticipated later this year, the city expects to reach or exceed that level by December. The pre-meeting record also referenced a separate budget request to add 24 more officers in the coming budget.
Why it matters: the COPS grant reduces the city’s near-term payroll burden for newly hired officers but includes a local-salary match obligation after the federal period ends.
No formal grant award or acceptance vote is recorded in the pre-meeting transcript; the item in the packet authorized the mayor to apply for and accept the grant if awarded.
