The Russell County Sheriff’s department will receive a significant federal grant to hire two new police officers.
The Department of Justice announced yesterday nearly $400 million in grant funding to law enforcement agencies across the country to hire additional officers. In Kentucky, only 19 police agencies received the grant money. The local Sheriff’s department will receive just over $144,000 in funding.
WJRS NEWS talked with Sheriff Derek Polston yesterday afternoon, soon after he received notification of the grant award, to get his reaction…
Polston said the addition of two new school resource officers for Russell Springs and Salem elementary schools will bring his total number of deputies to 11. He also Thanked School Superintendent Michael Ford and the school district, the Russell County Fiscal Court and Susan Melton at the Sheriff’s Department for the help in obtaining the grant money.
It is hoped those two new officers can be hired soon and be prepared for their duties as school resource officers when school resumes.
