Commission authorizes DOJ COPS grant application to seek funding for 10 sheriff deputies

The Montgomery County Commission on June 3 voted unanimously to authorize submission of a COPS Hiring Program grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, for the Sheriff's Office. The grant request is listed in the meeting packet as an estimate to support hiring 10 sheriff deputies.

The meeting packet includes a multi‑line salary and benefits table and a summary labeled "Estimated County Costs," which shows figures across multiple years (the packet lists an "Estimated County Costs" Year 1 total of $1,166,077.28 and higher amounts for subsequent years). Commissioners approved submission of the grant application but did not adopt the packet cost figures as a binding county budget commitment within the same motion.

The motion was moved by Commissioner Castanza and seconded by Vice Chairman Moore‑Zeigler and carried unanimously. The packet also lists potential incentive amounts and standard staffing cost projections; staff did not present a separate vote to commit matching county funds at this meeting.

Why it matters: If successful, COPS grant funding could be used to hire additional deputies, which would affect personnel, overtime, and long‑term county budget planning. The grant application authorization allows staff to pursue federal funding; any local fiscal impacts that would accompany a hiring plan would require separate county action and budgeting.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the grant application process. Any award and related county funding or staffing commitments would be presented to the commission for approval in a subsequent action.