A new grant might help the Taylor Police Department expand.
On May 12, the Taylor City Council authorized completion of an application for a grant from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The grant could assist the department and add five new officers.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t share this funding opportunity,” said Chief Henry Fluck.
The goal of the COPS program is to provide direct funding to law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire more career officers to increase policing capacity and crime prevention. All agencies with primary law enforcement authority are eligible to apply.
“We have requested four patrol officers in the last three budget years,” said Fluck, “and in addition to that, we’re hoping to also include a downtown parks foot and bike patrol officer.”
The total yearly cost for five new officers would be $392,320. The COPS grant would cover at least 75% for the officers’ first year, 54% for the second and 30% for the third. After three years, with a total cost of $1,176,960 to employ the five officers, the city’s match would be $553,171. Taylor can apply for a waiver of the local match.
Taylor has 30 authorized positions on the force. Fluck wants to increase to 35 in future budgets.
“In 1999, there were 30 sworn officers, but then around the year 2007-09, they decreased the number of officers (to 25) due to the economic recession that was occurring across the nation,” said the chief. “Since I’ve been chief, we’ve increased by five positions to get us back to the 30.”
Councilmember Mitch Drummond emphasized the math. “So over 22 years, we’ve had the same size force just about,” said Drummond. “I think it’s time.”
Councilmember Robert Garcia shared a similar view.
“With the growth coming to Taylor and the request for more officers downtown,” said Garcia. “this is something that’s much needed.”
City Manager Brian LaBorde cautioned the council that the city’s financial situation when Taylor receives the grant would need to be considered in deciding how many officers the city can actually hire.
“We would still have to do a fiscal impact to understand where we’re at and how much we can afford,” said LaBorde. “Human capital is one of our highest expenditures.”
Fluck discussed other terms and effects of the COPS grant. For more from the presentation, visit https://taylortx.swagit. com/play/05132022- 645/6.
