$1.37M to go to police in region

By David Skolnick

Youngstown will likely use its $594K allocation to help ‘avoid or minimize layoffs,’ Mayor Williams said.

YOUNGSTOWN — Eighteen area law enforcement agencies are eligible to receive about $1.37 million from the federal stimulus package to help hire and retain officers and for crime-fighting programs.

The Friday announcement on law enforcement funding is the latest — the fourth this week — from the Obama administration about where money from the $787 billion stimulus package is going.

Youngstown is the primary beneficiary of the law enforcement money in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. The city is to receive $593,931.

It’s good news for the city that’s facing a projected $3.39 million deficit for this year. But more work needs to be done.

“The funds will most likely be used as part of our effort to avoid or minimize layoffs,” said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. “However, in order to accomplish this goal, it will also require cooperation from the police union. We intend to again request a meeting with them next week to explore options to do the same.”

The funding is to go toward hiring and retaining law enforcement officers, helping with multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, and justice information sharing programs.

“We cannot allow our national economic crisis to affect our communities’ ability to keep our streets safe,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th. Ryan’s district includes portions of Mahoning County, including Youngstown, and most of Trumbull County.

To obtain the money, the federal government is requiring the communities in a county to work together and with county officials to coordinate how the funds would be used.

A plan must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by May 18.

“During this recession, it is critically important that we ensure our cash-strapped police departments have the resources they need,” said U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, Pa., D-4th, who represents all of Lawrence County and a portion of Mercer County.

Nationwide, $2 billion is to be allocated, with $61.6 million going to Ohio and $72.3 million to Pennsylvania.

“These grants will allow local governments to support or improve law enforcement programs like prevention and education programs or corrections and drug treatment programs, just to name a few,” said U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, who represents all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County.

skolnick@vindy.com