Federal CHP grant will be used to hire 43 deputies in Citrus County, FL

On March 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced the release of approximately $300 million in grants for programs to enhance community policing, keep school students safe, and add law enforcement officers to local communities.

Nationwide, $216,809,571 in federal funds were distributed to 394 agencies for the hiring of 1,730 law enforcement officers.

Citrus County, Florida recently learned that it had been awarded $5,375,000 through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) that will be used to hire 43 new deputies.

According to Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Citrus County, a rapidly growing community that has seen a population increase of 65% over the past 30 years, was among the top five highest awards in the entire country. Data revealed that the county is grossly understaffed in law enforcement personnel to support its current population and the number of calls received for service.

The others in the top 5 award recipcients included the cities of Houston, Texas and San Antonio, Texas; Chicago, Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio, each awarded $6,250,000 to hire 50 law enforcement officees. Other top awards went to Atlantic City, New Jersey; Tampa, Florida; and Cleveland, Ohio, each awarded $3,750,000 to hire 30 officers; and Arlington, Texas, awarded $3,000,000 to hire 24 officers.

“I am extremely humbled that Citrus County was able to receive the funding to hire 43 new deputies,” said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “The fact that this funding was provided to us drives home the point that we have a great need here in Citrus County."

Learn more about the grants here: cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award.

Florida Grants

City or County - Number of Officers to be Hired - Award Amount:
Boynton Beach - 7 - $875,000
Bradenton, City - 3 - $375,000
Chiefland, City - 2 - $250,000
Citrus County - 43 - $5,375,000
Clay County - 14 - $1,750,000
Fort Lauderdale, City - 6 - $750,000
Hernando County - 4 - $500,000
Jacksonville, City - 40 - $5,000,000
Lauderdale Lakes, City - 2 - $250,000
Manatee County - 6 - $750,000
Miramar, City - 30 - $3,750,000
Nassau, County - 4 - $500,000
North Port, City - 10 - $1,250,000
Okeechobee County - 4 - $500,000
Orlando, City - 18 - $2,250,000
Pembroke Park, Town - 3 - $375,000
Port St. Lucie, City - 2 - $250,000
Punta Gorda, City - 4 - $500,000
Saint Cloud, City - 6 - $750,000
Starke, City - 2 - $250,000
Tampa, City - 30 - $3,750,000
Walton County - 6 - $750,000

COPS Hiring Program (CHP)

CHP grants provide 75% of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of each newly hired and/or rehired full-time officer, up to $125,000 per officer position, for three years (36 months) of salary support.

In 2022, CHP grants could be used on or after the official grant award start date to:

(1) Hire new officers, including filling existing officer vacancies that are no longer funded in an agency’s budget.
(2) Rehire officers already laid off by any jurisdiction as a result of state, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget reductions unrelated to the receipt of grant funding.
(3) Rehire officers scheduled to be laid off by the grantee’s jurisdiction on a specific future date as
a result of state, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget reductions unrelated to the receipt of grant funding.