Sheriff outlines COPS hiring grant plan; commissioners waive rules to consider request

Montgomery County Sheriff Derek Cunningham told commissioners the Department of Justice COPS hiring grant has opened and could fund the county’s hiring of up to 10 deputies.

Cunningham said the federal grant would cover deputies’ salaries for three years, and the county would be required to retain the positions for two additional years after the grant ends. "The only obligations we really have to do is to be able to retain them for 2 years at at the end of the grant, which is a 3 year grant where the federal government will pay their salaries, up for that first 3 years," Cunningham said.

Commissioners moved to waive rules so the matter could be considered immediately. "I move that we waive rules," one commissioner said, and the commission voted to waive rules. "All in favor of of waving rules, say aye. Aye. Likewise opposed. Okay. We'll waive roots," another commissioner announced after the vote.

Why it matters: If the county accepts the grant and hires deputies under its terms, Montgomery County will add officer capacity but also incur future retention costs when federal funding ends. Cunningham said the county expects to hire and staff at capacity to make use of the grant's hiring window.

The transcript records the waiver of rules to consider the grant; the meeting record does not show a formal commission vote authorizing submission of the grant application or an approval to accept grant funds. Sheriff Cunningham said the county is in a position to hire and would use attrition to absorb retention obligations where possible.