Sheriff Surprised By Grant Pend Oreille County Gets $130,640 For Two Deputies

The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Department will get $130,640 to hire two more deputies under a federal grant announced Thursday.

The announcement came as a surprise to Sheriff Doug Malby.

“If they’re going to send money, I’m going to hire,” he said. “I’ll let you know if it comes.”

Malby said he wasn’t expecting money for more than the two extra deputies he has already hired. He said he applied almost three years ago for three positions, and got money for two. One of the positions was filled about two years ago; the second was filled on April 1.

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said the grants announced Thursday are in addition to any previously received.

“If they got two previously, then they’re getting four,” Miller said.

The grants pay up to 75 percent of an officer’s salary and benefits for three years. Local governments must pay the rest. Police agencies also are expected to make a “good faith” effort to retain the extra positions, and not simply rely on attrition to keep the new officers, Miller said.

“The whole point is to put 100,000 additional officers on the street,” he said.

The largest grants in Washington were $450,000 for the hiring of six officers in Kennewick and $300,000 for four officers in Redmond.

Others were:

$150,000 for two officers each in Klickitat and Mason counties and in Newcastle, Snoqualmie and Toppenish.

$75,000 for one officer each in Bainbridge Island, Camas, East Wenatchee, Forks, Walla Walla and at Washington State University.

$65,013 for one officer in Oroville.

$64,325 for one officer in Wapato.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = John Craig Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.