Saint Cloud, FL - The U.S. Department of Justice announced recently that the St. Cloud Police Department is set to receive $750,000 in grant funds to assist in hiring six additional officers this fiscal year.

The City applied for the funds, awarded through the DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program, earlier this year. The money will pay for 75% of the base salary and benefits for the officers for a period of three years, with the City of St. Cloud funding the remainder.  

“Securing Department of Justice COPS grant funding is a significant win for our community,” said Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “These vital resources will enable us to enhance our law enforcement capabilities, bolster community policing initiatives, and foster a safer environment for all residents of St. Cloud."

The officers will specifically support the department’s Community Engagement Unit. Residents will find them typically dressed in more informal uniforms, such as shorts and polo shirts. They may be patrolling while riding bicycles along the lakefront or attending events at Hopkins Park.

City leadership has worked hard in recent years to ensure that funding for public safety keeps pace with the tremendous growth the Central Florida region is experiencing, including the construction of new fire stations, new and upgraded amenities at the City’s public safety training facility, and a proposed new public safety administration complex.

"A professional and trusted police force is the bedrock of a safe and secure community,” said Mayor Nathan Blackwell. “By investing in more police officers, we are truly investing in the safety of our residents and the future of our city.”

The St. Cloud Police Department has been extremely successful in recruiting and retaining quality officers, with a new competitive contract, lateral transfer program, and a variety of specialized units within the department that encourage continued law enforcement and skill-building.

COPS Program website – https://cops.usdoj.gov/aboutcops   

SCPD Recruiting website – https://www.stcloudfl.gov/1957/Police-Officer