FEDS APPROVE GRANT TO HIRE 240 OREGON STATE POLICE TROOPERS

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon State Police could nearly double its
ranks of troopers with a grant approved by the federal government.

The program, however, requires matching funds that the Oregon
Legislature must decide whether to provide.

The grant from President Clinton's COPS program -- the Office of
Community Oriented Policing Services -- totals more than $18 million
over three years and could allow the state police to hire 240 troopers
to boost the 360 uniformed officers already on patrol.

State Police Superintendent LeRon R. Howland said the U.S. Justice
Department would set the money aside to allow state lawmakers
flexibility in deciding how much to spend on new troopers.

Howland said the agency has lost 250 uniformed patrol positions since
1981, closed several police offices and left some areas of the state
without 24-hour coverage.

More troopers to patrol interstate and state highways also would free
up county and city police departments to spend more time on criminal
investigations, Howland said.

Senate Majority Leader Gene Derfler, R-Salem, said support for
expansion was likely.

"I think it would be very favorable because we didn't fund the state
police with many positions last time," Derfler said.

Studies have shown since 1992 that Oregon has only about half the
number of troopers it should have.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry