Montevallo council authorizes application to DOJ COPS Hiring Program for two officers

The Montevallo City Council on June 22 authorized city staff to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program (CHP) to fund two full-time sworn police officers.

Council Member Lelia Mitchell moved to authorize the application; Council Member Alyssa Green seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chief Burr had addressed the council during the work session and evening meeting about staffing needs and the department’s intent to use the positions for patrol and community-policing duties.

Materials in Appendix 7 describe the FY26 CHP funding opportunity: Grants.gov SF-424 submissions are due by July 23, 2026, and the JustGrants full application is due July 29, 2026. The CHP typically funds up to 75% of entry-level salaries and fringe benefits for a three-year period; the appendix notes a minimum 25% local cost share is required unless a waiver is approved and states a maximum federal share per officer of up to $125,000 over three years (not per year). Montevallo’s motion records the council’s local authorization to submit the application and notes the department’s commitment — as included in the narrative materials — to incorporate any grant-funded positions into the city’s long-term budget if retained beyond the federal funding period.

The council did not provide a line-item dollar figure for the 25% local match in the meeting minutes; the minutes record the policy decision to proceed with the application. Next steps for staff include preparing the required federal application elements by the Grants.gov and JustGrants deadlines indicated in the application packet.