York gets grant to hire community police officer

The York Police Department has received a three-year grant of $122,476 through the U.S. Department of Justice to hire a police officer to focus on community policing.

York is one of six local law enforcement agencies in South Carolina to receive a portion of $2.8 million in grants from the federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

“I’ve always had a community policing philosophy, ever since I came here,” said York Police Chief Andy Robinson. “I feel like having one person dedicated to it all will allow us to focus on getting more done and just being more efficient.”

Robinson said the new community policing position will be responsible for handling and attending all community events, including neighborhood meetings, parades and National Night Out, and organizing the Christmas and Thanksgiving meal drives and a holiday gift drive.

The staff member also will be responsible for training, which will include training on community policing, and will be responsible for the department’s citizens academy, he said.

In the past, Robinson said, those responsibilities were spread out over several officers. “Everybody will know who to come to now. It’s a lot more efficient that way,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the grant will pay 95 percent of the costs the first year, 90 percent the second year and 25 percent the third year. The city will pick up the remainder of those costs, he said.

“I think the community will see us a lot more involved,” he said. Robinson said he is looking for an internal candidate to fill the role, and has not yet named the individual.

The money is aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 23 law enforcement positions intended to “build trust, reduce violence and protect schools,” according to a release.

“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, director of the COPS Office.

“These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing,” he said.

The program provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for three years.

Said U. S. Attorney Bill Nettles: “The COPS Grants are a terrific use of federal tax dollars. Community policing is one of the building blocks of safe streets and strong communities.”

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 3:49 PM with the headline "York gets grant to hire community police officer."