NORTH CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The City of North Chicago Police Department has been awarded funding to hire more police officers.
According to the North Chicago Police Department, the funding is from a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program.
The police department said the grant announced last week, will provide the city with $750,000 to use over the next three years. The North Chicago Police Department is one of 596 law enforcement agencies nationwide to receive funding. North Chicago is one of only two municipalities in Lake County that were awarded funds from the grant.
The department plans to hire six additional officers.
“The North Chicago Police Department has worked hard to not only see crime in our community decrease,” North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham said. “The department has also worked especially hard to build strong relationships with our residents...
“Our police have been doing an excellent job interacting and engaging in the community so bringing additional officers will give us an opportunity to continue that."
And while many cities are looking to dismantle parts of policing, Rockingham said it’s a balancing act to reduce crime and build relationships.
“If there’s an opportunity to shift funds to another group, I think that should be looked at, but if you want to get to the public and get to your residents you have to have a police force that’s going to be interacting with them, and in order to do that, and still supply the safety of the public, you’ve got to have the resources to do that," he said.
According to a Department of Justice press release, the COPS Hiring Program has announced $51 million in total grant funding as part of this year’s Operation Relentless Pursuit. The awards will provide funding for the hiring of an additional 2,732 law enforcement personnel across the country. There were over 1,100 nationwide applicants for funding.
The North Chicago Police Department plans to use the additional personnel to expand the department’s community outreach and combat gun and gang related crimes, but it could take at least a year before the first three officers are on the street.
“Part of our effort will go toward strengthening our bond with the community,” North Chicago Police Chief Lazaro Perez explained. “Our 'Walk and Talk' program will meet residents out in the community. Our officers look forward to an increase in positive interaction in our residents in their neighborhoods.”
The North Chicago Police Department currently has 49 sworn officers. The additional hires are expected to bring the department staffing to its highest level in several years.