FEDERAL GRANT ADDS THREE POLICE OFFICERS TO LOMPOC

7/28/99 The Lompoc Police Department will hire three officers after
receiving a federal grant Tuesday worth $225,000.

Police officials said the grant enables the department to reinstate the
narcotics task force, which was previously deactivated due to budget
constraints.

"(It's) less than one cop 24 hours a day, but it's three more than we had
before," said police Capt. Tim Dabney. "It's great to have."

The grant will give the police department a total of 47 officers.

The grant award, which police expected and budgeted for, was announced
Tuesday by Congresswoman Lois Capps.

Police officials are already going through the selection process to hire
the officers. Lompoc had a good indication it would receive the grant,
Dabney said. Through the budget process, the city council committed to
paying for its portion of the grant and keeping the officers on after the
three-year funding cycle.

Dabney said it costs about $60,000 a year per officer, which includes pay,
benefits and equipment.

The grants are through the COPS program, which was part of the 1994 Crime
Bill. In a statement, Capps said the program has brought in more than $8
million to police on the Central Coast.