WATERTOWN, S.D. (KELO.com) – Watertown’s police force will be expanding by three additional officers next year thanks to a $375,000 federal COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant.
Police Chief Lee McPeek told the city council Monday night that their grant application was approved on June 25th.
He says three additional officers will get the department adequately staffed.
“We think this is a great opportunity for us to get to the staffing levels we need,” said Chief McPeek.
McPeek said they’re planning to have them be patrol officers in the car, but they may also have various tasks.
The vote to accept the COPS grant and the three new officers that will come with it was unanimous.
The grant requires the three additional officers remain on the police department staff at least four years, with that fourth year coming entirely at the city’s expense.
(Mike Tanner, Alpha Media USA, contributed to this story.)
