by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph Police Department is looking to the federal government to help pay for an additional officer.
The City Council approved on Feb. 18 Chief Dwight Pfannenstein’s proposal to apply for a Cops Hiring Program grant from a $400 million fund.
CHP grants provide funding to hire or re-hire entry-level law enforcement officers in order to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities and support crime prevention efforts.
St. Joseph has applied for the grant three times but those applications were turned down.
Pfannenstein said the program “is very competitive. But you don’t get it if you don’t apply.”
If approved, the grant would reimburse the city for 75 percent of a new officer’s wages and benefits the first year, 50 percent the second year and 25 percent the third year. During the fourth year, the city takes over all the cost.
The chief and Mayor Rick Schultz have said they wanted to add officers to the department.
If the CHP grant is approved, the officer would be added in 2021.
Pfannenstein highlighted the need for additional officers later in the meeting in his report to the council. The chief said January calls were up 15 percent from a year before.
He also advised the council about two incidents that resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, guns, vehicles and cash.
Pfannenstein said the two incidents consumed considerable time not only for the officers on duty during the arrests but also the entire department with follow-up and court preparations.
St. Joseph Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein
