AUBURN — City police can hire two more officers after $250,000 came in Friday from a federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant.
Deputy Chief Jason Moen said the money will be used to cover 75 percent of the current school resource officer positions for three years and shift that current local funding to new jobs in a specialized traffic enforcement unit.
In applying, Auburn had to agree to keep the new officers on for a fourth year.
“Given the current financial situation in Washington, if we got one position we would have been happy,” Moen said. “For us to get two positions, we’re ecstatic.”
It will help toward a City Council goal of increased traffic safety in Auburn, he said.
The money has to be formally accepted by the council before the department can hire for the positions.
The city received the U.S. Department of Justice COPS grants in 1998 and 2009.
Mexico, Topsham and Hampden also received funding for one officer each, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud’s office.
kskelton@sunjournal.com
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