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New cop for city thanks to grant
By Jamie Larson
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
A new police officer will be walking the beat in Hudson soon thanks to federal stimulus program. The city learned yesterday it will be awarded a grant worth $171, 907 in stimulus money through the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for the salary of an entry level officer for three years.
There are a number of details city officials are waiting on but COPS has informed Mayor Richard Scalera and the Hudson Police Department that they should begin the hiring process. HPD’s budget contains the salaries for 25 officers, there is currently a vacant position according to the mayor, and he would rather see the money go towards the salary of that officer as opposed to hiring a 26th man or woman. City Police Commissioner Ronald Grant said that specifics still needs to be discussed.
Neither man had yet heard from COPS if the new officer has to be above and beyond what the HPD budgets for or if it can free salary costs already allocated. The city will be responsible for paying the officer’s salary in total for a fourth year. The program had initially stipulated that an awarded municipality keep the new officer on for three years after the funds ran out, and it wasn’t until that time commitment was dropped to a single year that the city decided to apply for it.
“It doesn’t sound like much,” Scalera said, “but it’s one cop the tax payers won’t have to pay for.”
Scalera said when you include raises and all the benefits an HPD officer receives over their first three years, $171,907 won’t cover it all but it will have an impact. “Whatever little gap money we’re putting in is worth a police officer on the street that wouldn’t be there for budgetary reasons otherwise.”
Commissioner Grant said HPD has been anxiously awaiting news on the grant and says he will have to enter a “deeper dialog” with the city about whether the officer will be the 25th or 26th on the force. “In this era of fiscal constraints its a benefit” Grant said about relieving the grant, adding, “We’re seeking more opportunities for funding to further serve the people of Hudson.”
The city’s grant application did extremely well in the scoring process that led to it winning the funds, coming in 6th and scoring in the 92nd percentile. HPD was one of only 12 municipal departments selected out of 225 applicants across the state. Both Scalera and Grant thanked the city’s grant writers from the aptly named firm, The Grant Writers. “We’re extremely pleased because this was a difficult application,” Principal Grant Writer John Duchessi said. “There were some substantial applications that didn’t get funded, including the New York State Police.”
Duchessi said activities that HPD do for the Hudson community, like the DARE program, factored heavily into their selection. The grant application originally asked for the funding for two new officers but Duchessi said getting one out of such a competitive process was a success.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
There are a number of details city officials are waiting on but COPS has informed Mayor Richard Scalera and the Hudson Police Department that they should begin the hiring process. HPD’s budget contains the salaries for 25 officers, there is currently a vacant position according to the mayor, and he would rather see the money go towards the salary of that officer as opposed to hiring a 26th man or woman. City Police Commissioner Ronald Grant said that specifics still needs to be discussed.
Neither man had yet heard from COPS if the new officer has to be above and beyond what the HPD budgets for or if it can free salary costs already allocated. The city will be responsible for paying the officer’s salary in total for a fourth year. The program had initially stipulated that an awarded municipality keep the new officer on for three years after the funds ran out, and it wasn’t until that time commitment was dropped to a single year that the city decided to apply for it.
“It doesn’t sound like much,” Scalera said, “but it’s one cop the tax payers won’t have to pay for.”
Scalera said when you include raises and all the benefits an HPD officer receives over their first three years, $171,907 won’t cover it all but it will have an impact. “Whatever little gap money we’re putting in is worth a police officer on the street that wouldn’t be there for budgetary reasons otherwise.”
Commissioner Grant said HPD has been anxiously awaiting news on the grant and says he will have to enter a “deeper dialog” with the city about whether the officer will be the 25th or 26th on the force. “In this era of fiscal constraints its a benefit” Grant said about relieving the grant, adding, “We’re seeking more opportunities for funding to further serve the people of Hudson.”
The city’s grant application did extremely well in the scoring process that led to it winning the funds, coming in 6th and scoring in the 92nd percentile. HPD was one of only 12 municipal departments selected out of 225 applicants across the state. Both Scalera and Grant thanked the city’s grant writers from the aptly named firm, The Grant Writers. “We’re extremely pleased because this was a difficult application,” Principal Grant Writer John Duchessi said. “There were some substantial applications that didn’t get funded, including the New York State Police.”
Duchessi said activities that HPD do for the Hudson community, like the DARE program, factored heavily into their selection. The grant application originally asked for the funding for two new officers but Duchessi said getting one out of such a competitive process was a success.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
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