HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) -
Hartford Police Chief James Rovella joined Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and other lawmakers Thursday afternoon and announced a hiring grant for the Hartford Police Department.
The $1.7 million grant is being awarded through the Department of Justice's COPS Hiring Program and will be used to fund 12 police officer positions for the city.
All the new officers hired under the grant are required to be military veterans that have served at least 180 days since September 11, 2001.
According to the Department of Justice, the grant will provide the officer's salary and benefits for three years.
Officials said the departments were chosen based on fiscal needs and crime rates, along with the agency's specific strategy to address problems involving homicides and gun violence.
City officials said the grant will have enough funding to hire the police recruits once they make it through the Police Academy, replacing retirees and maintaining the approximately 460 police officers.
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