SCOTT CITY QUALIFIES TO HIRE NEW OFFICER FOR CITY PATROL WORK

SCOTT CITY -- Within the next few weeks, Police Chief Danny Clubb hopes to hire another patrol officer.

Scott City's Police Department qualified and was approved for the COPS FAST program, which allows the city to hire an additional police officer with grant funds.

The new officer will focus primarily on community policing, Clubb said.

"We are a small city and do it anyway," he said. But the grant will allow the city to do more community programs.

Clubb had originally asked the city council and police board for two additional officers, but funding wasn't available for both.

Mayor Larry Forhan said the grant helps to stretch the city's dollars.

"It's good because it gives us an additional officer on the street, and the advantage for the city is that we don't have the full cost for a three-year period," Forhan said.

Under the grant outline, the federal government pays 75 percent of the officer's salary and the city pays the remaining amount during the first year. Over the next two years, the city has to match the federal funds until it pays the entire salary amount.

Clubb said the city will pay about $4,000 during the first year.

"With an extra officer on the street, we can start doing community projects," Clubb said. He added that neighborhood and merchant checks will probably increase.

The department's grant application stays active for a second year, Clubb said. The department might qualify to hire another officer next year.

The police department has nine full-time officers to patrol the town of about 4,600 people.

Last year, three officers resigned from the department amid some controversy. Clubb said the matter has been resolved.

Clubb would like to see the department expand if the Lady Luck Casino locates in Scott City, although there are probably enough officers in the department now to handle problems.

"I don't think we'll have a lot of crime," he said. "We'll have more traffic but not more criminal activity."

The department has also obtained a new Breathalyzer machine from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. New officer uniforms and historical patches have also been ordered, Clubb said.