Washington state has given out its first police hiring grants from a new $100 million program. The Kent Police Department got over $1.9 million to hire 20 new officers and improve training. The Black Diamond Police Department got $375,000 to hire one new officer.
This program was created because Washington has fewer police officers per person than any other state. Governor Bob Ferguson pushed for this funding to help local police departments that are short on staff. To get the money, cities and counties must follow certain rules, including adding a small sales tax to help pay for officers after the grant money runs out.
The program has been slow to start - it took 10 months to give out the first grants, and only 9 police departments have applied so far. Cities that get grants must follow state policies, meet training requirements, and track how officers use force. The grant money can pay up to 75% of an officer's salary and benefits.
Local officials say the application process has too much paperwork and takes too long. New officers hired with this money will still need to graduate from police academy before they can start working, which could take another year.