14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-HPD awarded federal grant

HPD awarded federal grant

By Brandon Bartlett - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Noah Stubbs - email

HENDERSON, KY (WFIE) - More officers will soon be hitting the streets of Henderson.

The Henderson Police Department is one of the lucky few awarded the federal COPS grant.

That grant will allow the department to hire three new officers and strengthen the city's community policing program.

It was just over a year ago, a rash of burglaries occured on Henderson's south-side.

More police started patrolling the area and the number of break-ins declined.

A store owner, who was victim to several burglaries, said the additional man-power this grant will provide is good news to all.

"I think it's really good with all the break-ins we're having on the south end of town," Chicago Connection owner Cindy Hernandez said. 

Shortly after Hernandez opened Chicago Connection last year, her small store on the city's south-side quickly became a target for burglars.

"Occasionally we'll get a note stuck in the door that says the city police stopped by to check out everything appeared to be okay," Hernandez said.

That additional police presence is one of the reasons she believes her merchandise hasn't been stolen in months.

"That's where this whole focus goes in dealing with community issues," Major David Piller with the Henderson Police Department said.

Dealing with those issues before they become a conflict is what Piller says is key to proactive policing.

"Getting in front of crime, finding out what the problems are and hoping to solve those problems to reduce crime, to eliminate crime, or to prevent crimes from occurring in the first place," Pillar said. 

Now the Henderson Police Department will be able to implement more of those community policing practices once three new officers are added to the roster.

The department is the only one in the Tri-State to be awarded the COPS grant.

It'll get $567,588, which will pay the salary and benefits for those new officers for three years.

They'll likely be sent out on the streets putting additional manpower in problem areas, which will allow all officers to focus more on working with the community to develop solutions to issues.

It will also bring more peace of mind to folks like Cindy Hernandez.

"At least I know they're looking out for us a little more," Hernandez said. 

Most police departments across the Tri-State said they applied for the COPS grant but unfortunately didn't get it.

The Evansville Police Department says it also was denied, but did recently get some money from a grant that will be used to purchase new equipment.

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