JSO awarded $1.875M grant by Justice Department

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded grants to 16 police departments across the state, including the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

JSO will receive $1.875 million to hire new officers or keep funding current officers.

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The grant is part of the COPS Hiring Program, which has a goal to increase its community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Priority was given to agencies that want to hire more resource officers or hire military veterans or focus on gun violence.

The grants will provide 75 percent funding for entry level salaries and benefits for three years.

Jacksonville and Miami got the bulk of the money in Florida and both agencies were awarded nearly $2 million.

Sheriff John Rutherford said JSO just learned about it and is evaluating if it will be able to hire more officers.

A statement released Wednesday afternoon said JSO budget officers will meet with the city to determine how the grant will affect the budget that was just finalized.

Rutherford will also meet with the council president, the finance chair and city budget officials to discuss the impact of the grant on their 2014-2015 budget.

The sheriff said he will keep the public informed when his office completes its analysis.