Citing Cost, Middletown Turns Down Grant To Hire Two Additional Cops

Middletown Township has turned down a federal grant that would allow the hiring of two additional police officers.

Township officials confirmed to this news organization Thursday that they have turned down a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice through the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program that was announced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick last month.

“Middletown Township had to regretfully decline the COPS grant because of the significant financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial circumstances that existed in early 2020 when our application was submitted have shifted completely in the wake of the COVID-19,” said Township Supervisors Chairperson Mike Ksiazek.

The grant, which is competitive, provides financial support for communities to hire additional officers to “reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing,” according to the Department of Justice.

Under the terms of the program, the township would have to hire two additional officers and maintain that staffing level for four years. According to the 2020 township budget, the department is presently authorized to have 59 sworn personnel and would have to maintain a staffing level of 61 sworn staff during the grant.

“The COPS grant has a four-year funding requirement, and it only pays $250,000, leaving taxpayers to pay the balance. This would have resulted in an expense to taxpayers of more than $770,000,” Ksiazek said. 

In providing context for the decision, Ksiazek said new officers will start at about $77,000 in 2021 and make $115,000 by year four. In addition, he estimated the benefits for officers at about $25,000 per year. 

“The total cost for two officers over four years, in round numbers is close to $1,000,000 – the grant is only $250,000,” he said.

In the 2020 township budget, policing is the largest expense at $11.1 million, an increase over 2019.

Ksiazek explained that the township is expecting a $3.5 million budget shortfall in 2020 due to the pandemic with an even greater impact forecasted next year.

“Unfortunately, because of this economic uncertainty, the Board of Supervisors did not believe that it would be prudent to commit to the four-year funding requirement that would be necessary to accept this award,” the supervisor said. 

Will Kiley, a spokesperson for the congressman, said Fitzpatrick “works to bring as much federal money back to our community as possible.”

“As these grants sometimes come with requirements, it’s ultimately up to the local municipalities to make their individual determination on whether or not to accept the federal assistance. That is a decision for the municipalities alone to make in determining whether it’s in their best interest to accept the federal assistance,” he added.

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