Tulsa, OK – Tulsa council votes 7-2 to accept stimulus grant
TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Tulsa City Council has voted 7-2 to accept a $3.5 million federal stimulus grant to hire 18 police officers.
The Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS grant will pay the salaries and benefits of the new officers for three years. The city is required to keep the officers at least one year after the first three at a cost of about $1.3 million and will pay about $396,000 to train and equip them.
Councilors Bill Martinson and Rick Westcott voted against taking the grant. Westcott says he's worried about the costs the city will face when the grant expires.
Councilors voting for the grant said residents tell them public safety is their No. 1 concern.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.