Sarasota Police Receive $1 Million for Hiring

There may soon be more officers on Sarasota’s streets thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice.

That agency has awarded the Sarasota Police Department a $1 million COPS Hiring Program grant. The money covers the costs of hiring up to eight additional officers, an email from Sarasota police said.

Sarasota is one of 16 law enforcement agencies in Florida to receive a COPS Hiring grant this year. A total of 212 agencies nationwide are expected to receive the funding.

State Sen. Bill Nelson’s office notified Chief Bernadette DiPino about the grant award on Wednesday.

“This is such an honor that the Department of Justice supports our concepts and believes in the initiatives of the Sarasota Police Department enough to award us $1 million,” DiPino was quoted in the email as saying.

Sarasota hopes to use the money to fund up to eight new officers. The grant covers 75 percent of the costs of hiring entry-level officers and their benefits for three years.

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