New Castle police will benefit from funds

The police chief said the money will go fast.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — New Castle’s police chief says he plans to make good use of nearly $123,000 his department will get from a federal grant beefed up with stimulus money.

Chief Tom Sansone said Wednesday that he would like to use the Justice Assistance Grant for hiring two part-time police officers and a part-time clerk.

He also would like two new cruisers and some portable radios.

He said if the department is not able to renew the grant next year, the city would try to fund the salaries from other sources.

Sansone said his department has 35 officers, including two who are part time.

His full complement is 35 full-time officers, he said. He also is short of manpower because there are three officers on long-term leave.

Sansone said his department could use five or six new cruisers, but at around $25,000 a piece, he would be happy with two.

“And a couple of portable radios,” he said “It [the money] will go fast.”

Sansone said the department appreciates the money, especially because it usually only got between $16,000 and $20,000 in JAG funds each year.

“Last year, [President] Bush cut it down to nothing,” he said. “So we didn’t see anything last year.”

Sansone said that it is especially important to have more money to run the department in the present economic crisis. “In hard times, we get busier.”

He said he would be discussing uses for the grant with the mayor.