Bankrupt Stockton Hires Additional Cops To Qualify For Federal Grant
STOCKTON (CBS13) — The bankrupt city of Stockton is ready to bring in 17 more police officers after meeting hiring levels required for a federal grant.
Brian Rust was sworn in on Tuesday as the 344th officer on the Stockton Police force.
That number is significant because the police department couldn't access millions in federal grant money until they reached it.
Now the department can hire 17 new officers with the Department of Justice grant.
With his baby in tow, Rust says he accepts the challenges of working for the cash-strapped city.
"It's a dangerous city, but somebody has got to do it," he said.
It's taken about two years for the police department to get levels up to the grant requirement. It's had a problem with recruiting and retaining officers.
"Part of it is because it's a very competitive market out there," said Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones. "A lot of other agencies have been hiring as well."
Even with the additional officers on the way, and if voters pass a tax initiative that could pay for 120 new officers, there's still a need for many, many more.
"We need at least 550 officers to really make a difference in crime," Jones said.
In addition to the federal grant, the department also received a state grant to pay for two new officers.
