CLEVELAND — The city of Canton and the embattled city of East Cleveland are among the Northeast Ohio communities who have received money from the Justice Department to hire more law enforcement officers.
More than $139 million in grant funding is being provided to agencies through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 180 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 973 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
The following departments in Northeast Ohio have received awards:
- City of Canton: $1,250,000 to hire ten new full-time employees
- City of East Cleveland: $375,000 for three new hires
- Madison Township: $125,000 for one new hire
- Milton Township: $125,000 for one new hire
- Village of Lakemore: $125,000 for one new hire
“As law enforcement agencies across the nation continue to experience recruitment and retention challenges, we are proud to provide these resources to help alleviate those challenges confronting the profession,” said Acting Director Robert Chapman of the COPS Office.
For the city of East Cleveland, the grant money comes during a time of controversy involving its police department. In August, Chief Scott Gardner was placed on administrative leave following his indictment on multiple charges related to theft and fraud. Mayor Brandon King swore in Brian Gerhard as the city's new police chief last week.
Besides Gardner, eight current or former officers are facing legal troubles of their own. Last week, two more officers and two officers that had already faced indictment were charged, accused of ramming into cars during pursuits and then assaulting the people inside.
Previous Reporting:
- East Cleveland law director: Recall petitions against Mayor Brandon King invalid
- Grand jury declines to indict Canton officer who fatally shot man on New Year's Day
- 'We're going to get back to discipline': Acting East Cleveland police chief making changes amid recent controversies
- 2 East Cleveland police officers indicted, suspended following alleged assaults
- Timeline of the recent controversies involving the East Cleveland Police Department
