The Starke County Sheriff’s Department may have another officer thanks to the COPS hiring grant.
Sheriff Bill Dulin presented a request to apply for the grant to the Starke County Council and Commissioners on Monday night. The grant funding would support up to 75 percent of the salary for a new officer to help combat the drug epidemic in Starke County.
The position would be funded for three years and then the county may have to find funding to keep that officer following that period, but Sheriff Dulin said it gives them some time to find out how to budget for that position.
The commissioners approved the new position and the council members approved the job description and 25 percent county funding commitment, which is about $12,000 for each of the three years. That money would come from the Therapeutic Community Fund out of the sheriff’s budget. The position will only be available if the grant application is approved.
With the support of all government leaders, the grant will be submitted by March 11.
