Rehiring of Community Service Officers (2) and Community Relations Officer

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 4, the city of Ceres, in conjunction with the Department of Public safety will use the FY 2009 Recovery Act Byrne Competitive funds for Rehiring of Community Service Officers and the Community Relations Officer project. The goal of this project is to provide adequate levels of operational support within the Police Division so sworn personnel can dedicate more time to preventing and reducing criminal activity. The City of Ceres will use the funding to reinstate three recently laid off full-time support personnel. The staff will provide essential services related to juvenile diversion/delinquency prevention, crime scene investigation, parking enforcement, traffic control, community programs, and issue resolution. During the grant period, they will contribute over 12,000 hours of vital support to police officers, detectives, and the community.

CA/NCF