Council accepts $750,000 federal COPS hiring grant; county to match and add deputies over three years

Chester County Council voted to accept a $750,000 2025 COPS Hiring Program grant for the sheriff's office and authorized staff to work with the treasurer and county administrator on a three-year implementation plan.

Sheriff Max Dorsey told council the grant is intended to reduce response gaps across Chester's 580 square miles by funding new patrol positions; the county must provide a 42.87% match. "This COPS hiring grant is the most fiscally responsible way to ensure that when a Chester County citizen calls for help wherever they are, we have someone close to answer," Sheriff Dorsey said. The sheriff proposed adding 12 deputies over three years, hiring four per year with two funded by the grant and two by the county in each year.

Treasurer Darby provided cost estimates and an implementation illustration, saying the county's share would be phased in at roughly $205,000 per year in early years and increase in later years as the county assumes full cost of the positions. Darby and the sheriff said the program would not require full county funding until later budget years; the positions and matching costs would be included in the FY2026-27 budget process and require council appropriation.

Council members noted lingering staffing challenges and that minimum nightly staffing can drop considerably when deputies are out on leave. The motion to accept the grant passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize grant paperwork, present the three-year implementation budget schedule to council during the budget process and begin phased hiring only after budget approvals.