San Bernardino plans to hire 10 new officers with a $1.25 million federal grant, bringing the local police force to 297.

Hiring could begin as early as next month and end in March.

The hiring spree will allow the police department to “increase the number of patrol officers assigned to each police district and increase the number of officers available to respond to calls for duty,” according to a staff report. prepared for the city council this week.

City leaders unanimously and without comment authorized the City Manager to accept the grant on Wednesday, November 16.

San Bernardino, which in recent years has ranked highly on various lists of California’s dangerous cities, was one of 180 applicants nationwide to receive a COPS grant from the US Department of Justice.

Over 700 law enforcement agencies have applied for funding.

The $1.25 million federal grant is the latest to go to hiring cops in San Bernardino.

Over the past three years, the department has funded 28 police officer positions and 14 professional staff through grants and other external agreements, according to the staff report.

San Bernardino leaders implemented community-focused policing and problem-solving strategies nearly four years ago to address crime and violence by assigning officers to certain demographic districts.

At least six new cops will reinforce these community presences.

The cost of these 10 new agents starts at $1.35 million in fiscal year 2022-23 and increases to $1.65 million in fiscal year 2026-27.

Grant funding will cover $1 million in fiscal year 2022-23, $200,000 in 2023-24, and $50,000 in 2024-25. General fund dollars will cover the remaining costs for those years.

In fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, the city will cover all costs associated with these agents.