PROGRAM WILL ADD 700 POLICE OFFICERS

Hundreds of Missouri and Illinois communities will share in the federal "Cops Fast" program, created in last year's federal crime bill to put more police officers on the nation's streets immediately to fight crime.

Some $26 million will be allotted to Illinois communities to hire 406 police officers. Missouri counties and municipalities will get checks worth more than $14 million to hire 281 officers.

More than $5.4 million will be used in Southern Illinois, including Cairo, Tamms, Anna, Gorham, Carbondale, Murphysboro, Mounds, Mound City, Marion, Brookport, Zeigler and the Pulaski and Union county sheriff's departments.

In Southeast Missouri, 27 departments will add another officer to their rosters. They will share $1.457 million to hire additional officers at law enforcement agencies in Jackson, Scott City, Perry County, Sikeston, Miner, Morehouse, Farmington, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard County and Van Buren.

Nationwide, more than 6,660 police departments in small towns and suburbs with fewer than 50,000 people will share $434 million in grants to hire 7,115 new police officers under the 1994 crime bill.

The funding might only be enough to hire one or two officers and cover their costs for three years, but local officials welcomed the aid and said they would try to find funding to keep the new employees on the payroll.

"That's part of our commitment," Jackson City Manager Steve Wilson said.

Jackson will receive $52,989.75 to add an officer. Wilson said part of the city's agreement with the federal government is that the department permanently hire the officer at the end of the three-year program. Jackson wouldn't have any problems compensating an additional officer at the end of the program.

"We really don't have any crime here," Wilson said, "and we don't want it here."

Representatives from Southern Illinois were pleased with the federal government's program.

"This is good news for many police departments," said 12th District Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill. "Putting more police on the our streets is the most effective way to fight crime, and I'm pleased that the justice department has responded to requests for additional funding in our area."

District 19 Rep. Glen Poshard, D-Ill., agreed: "This will mean a dramatic increase in patrol strength in the villages and towns of our areas."

The municipalities and counties aren't totally devoid of costs. Federal funding will pay a maximum of 75 percent of the salary and benefits for each officer over a three-year period."

The funds will be available when officers are sworn in.

"As soon as we get official notification," Perry County Chief Deputy Dan Bowman said, "we'll start accepting applications."

Perry County will receive $50,625 to add a deputy to the six other road deputies at the sheriff's department.

Bowman said the department expects to be officially notified within the next few days.

Police and sheriff departments will receive from $30,000 to $75,000 and in some cases, more, if they have been approved for two police officers. Most communities qualifying for the Cops Fast program only will add one officer.

"Any help we can get is always a good boost for small towns," said Mayor Ken Kohler of Anna, which is getting money to add one officer to its seven-person force. Anna will get $51,000.

Kohler said the town laid off two officers two years ago and money is tight.

"When we lost two large industries here a couple of years ago, we thought it would be devastating," he said. "But, we've been surprised. Most of the people here have found new jobs and are still living in the community."

Cairo will receive $47,317 in the latest grant. The city received $185,000 in 1994 to hire four policemen. The new Cops Fast program gives Cairo a total of five officers under the federal program.

"The justice department acts fast," Cairo Mayor Jim Wilson said. "The application form was brief and was quick to be acted on."

Other area officials also were pleased with the fast-acting justice department and the short application form required to be eligible for the grant.

Steve Wilson said other grant programs offered through the federal government typically require several pages of documentation.

"This was a one-page form," he said.

Carbondale is one of only four communities in Southern Illinois to receive funding for two officers and will receive $144,846.

Departments receiving grants in Southeast Missouri will each add one officer.

Law enforcement agencies interested in receiving the grants had to submit their applications to the justice department by Dec. 31.