Grant to Help Fund 8 Campus Officers
Come March, Ventura County’s three community colleges will almost double the number of officers patrolling their campuses.
Thanks to a federal grant of more than half a million dollars, the Ventura County Community College District Police Department will be hiring eight additional full-time officers.
“I am very excited about this, because it will be a tremendous benefit to the students that we will have more than 1.3 officers on duty at any one time,†said campus Police Chief Michael Johnson. “We will provide the service they deserve by ensuring that the campus and personnel are well cared for.â€
The grant of $551,260 will pay 75% of the salaries and benefits for the officers over three years. It comes as part of $9 million awarded by the Justice Department to fund the hiring of 138 officers across the country.
The district will pay the other 25% of the salaries.
Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) wrote to the Justice Department in support of the district’s application.
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