NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
19 Sep 2006

STATE FUNDING TO PAY FOR 5 NEW CITY POLICE OFFICERS

Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the city will hire 5 new police officers, thanks to a Police on Patrol grant awarded to the city by Governor Ed Rendell.

Reed said the city will receive $750,000, or $50,000 per officer per year for three years, for the hiring of 5 officers for the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. The funding is part of a $10 million Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant program that is allocating similar funds in 14 cities across the Commonwealth. City funds will be used to pay the officers’ salaries after the third and final year of the program. There are currently 174 sworn officers on the Harrisburg force.

Mayor Reed said: “Once again, as he has done so many times, Governor Ed. Rendell demonstrates his total commitment to improving the safety of our citizens. He has a long record of doing so --- first as a District Attorney, then as a Mayor, and now as Governor. Harrisburg is delighted to have his approval of this grant for additional officers in our city. The funds shall be put to good use in increasing our community policing work through neighborhood patrols.”

“Police on Patrol will provide the funding necessary to ramp up police presence on city streets and help to stem the flow of illegal gun running, random violent acts against innocent citizens and drug trafficking across our commonwealth,” said Governor Rendell.

Harrisburg Police Chief Charles G. Kellar welcomed the funding: “This kind of non-city tax funding for the hiring of police officers is crucial right now, and especially in view of our city’s current budget crisis. Our appreciation is extended to Governor Rendell and the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and we look forward to putting these officers on the street.”

Kellar said the Police on Patrol-funded officers will be hired within the next two months and will begin their required training at Harrisburg Area Community College during the winter semester.