COUNTY OF MANATEE
Grant: $1,620,351 - Department of Justice - Jul. 1, 2009
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Award Description: The COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
Project Description: At the end of July, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) received word that CHRP would fund nine new hires. Since then, the agency has been working to add four officers to the homicide unit and staff a new Tactical Gang Unit with a sergeant and four detectives. MCSO used budgeted funds to purchase uniforms, equipment and supplies for the nine officers and followed agency procedures to fill the positions. As of October 1, the four homicide detectives and five gang unit detectives will be in place. Those positions are being back-filled with new hires. Seven have been hired with August or September start dates. The other two officers will begin work in the second quarter. During the first quarter of the grant period, Manatee County experienced two teen homicides one month apart. On August 4, a recent high school graduate was gunned down in his back yard by another student. On September 4, a 17 year-old cheerleader was killed when a student fired into the vehicle in which she was riding. The county has had 27 homicides to date compared to 17 homicides for all of 2008. With one quarter of the homicides being teens, new doors of opportunity have opened for community policing. Citizens have held marches and vigils. The Sheriff’s Office held a gun buy-back,obtaining 400 guns to destroy. The County Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office and School Board have held forums to address violence and are scheduling more to give citizens a voice. Detectives are listening and developing strategies to address this situation gripping the county. COPS funding has also made it possible for MCSO to create a Tactical Gang Unit. Four detectives and a sergeant begin with Division on October 11. The new unit met on September 29. Equipment was issued and schedules and expectations were discussed. The new unit will benefit from the work of the existing Investigative Gang Unit as they begin to address the growing gang problem in the county.
Jobs Summary: The Manatee County Sheriff's Office was awared (9) new hires and (0) rehires. New Hires: Seven (7) new hires began working prior to September 30, 2009. The remaining two new hires will begin work during the first part of the next quarter. (Total jobs reported: 3)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
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