The Board of Commissioners put their unanimous support behind an application for the federal COPS grant – a different stance than last year when the grant application became a point of contention between the Commission Chairman and Sheriff.

The terms of the COPS grant are slightly different this year, said Sheriff Jeff Wigington at the Tuesday evening BOC meeting. The grant would cover only 75 percent of the first three years for the salaries of three patrol deputies, instead of 100 percent, and would require a 25 percent match from the county. The fourth year the county would be required to pay 100 percent of the salaries. The cost of equipping the deputies would also be paid for by the county. However, the county would not be obligated to keep the deputies after the fourth year, unlike last year’s grant application. The grant would cover up to $125,000 worth.

Another difference is year’s grant would also be restricted to veterans who signed up for military service after September 11, 2001.

Commissioner Oz Nesbitt said, “There’s so much talk about veterans not being able to find employment… I think this is a good step in the right direction.”

Commissioner JaNice Van Ness said, “This is a priority for us as a Board of Commissioners.”

Last year, a request to apply for the COPS grant was initially turned down. The grant application last year would have provide about $506,000 for four positions over three years. The county would pay about $168,800 for the fourth year.

Eventually, an agreement was reached to apply for four positions for the COPS grant instead of the seven maximum allowed. Despite the application, Rockdale was not awarded the grant.