Dylan Smith

TucsonSentinel.com

September 30, 2010

The Tucson Police Department will receive a $12.5 million federal grant to pay the salaries of 50 officers, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords announced today.

The department is 137 officers below its authorized strength because of budget constraints.

The grant will fund entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions or for rehired officers who have been laid off.

Mayor Bob Walkup said he was “thrilled to death” that Tucson was selected for funding.

“I am extremely grateful for the award of this grant in these critical times,” Walkup said in a release from Giffords’ office. “It truly is coming at a critical time for Tucson as we face budget cuts and might be forced to lay off police officers.”

“Persuading the Justice Department that Tucson should receive this badly needed funding has been very important to me,” Giffords said in the release. “Police officers go to work every day and put their lives on the line for their fellow citizens.”

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