MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Police Department will be able to add four new officers with a new $1.3 million federal grant.
Chief Jason Bammann announced Friday afternoon the MPD was notified it will receive $1,340,792 from the U.S. Dept. of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services grant.
The MPD applied for the four-year grant in May, according to the chief.
“The Mansfield Division of Police has successfully applied for and received this grant several times since the 1990s,” Bammann said.
“What makes this award unique is that the Department of Justice waived the traditional 20 percent local match requirement, allowing the Division to receive 100 percent of the $1,340,792.00 award in full federal funding,” the chief said.
He said the funds will be used to supplement the salaries of these new positions over the next four years, increasing the MPD’s budgeted staffing level to 91, up from its current 87.
Bammann thanked Mayor Jodie Perry and Safety Service Director Keith Porch for their support of the department’s efforts.
“We remain excited about the direction our city administration is leading us, and the Division will continue to utilize every available resource to ensure the safety of our citizens and maintain safe streets throughout Mansfield,” the chief said.
Grant funds are available for three years and the city must agree to fund the new officers for the fourth year, according to Bammann.
It’s not known when the grant money will be received, given uncertainty during the ongoing federal government shutdown amid a budget debate in Congress.
Grant funds can be used to hire new officers, as well as seek lateral transfers from other departments.
A department staffed with 91 sworn officers would give Mansfield around 1.9 officers per 1,000 residents. According to online FBI data, the average city in the midwest in 2019 had 2.2 officers per 1,000 residents.
The population of Mansfield for 2025 is estimated to be 47,828, according to U.S. Census data.