SAN FERNANDO : Grant to Allow Hiring of Officer

A new community policing position will soon be created in the San Fernando Police Department with funds provided through seized drug money and federal grants, officials said.

The department will receive $75,000 over a three-year period, with the money made available through the 1994 federal crime bill. The grant, approved by the federal government in February, is specifically designed for “smaller towns,” defined as cities with populations under 50,000 people. San Fernando’s population is about 23,000.

Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said the money will allow the department to hire one new police officer, freeing a veteran officer from the department to fill the community policing position. The grant will provide $25,000 per year, with the city of San Fernando adding about $39,000 annually to help cover the cost of the new police officer’s annual salary and benefits, officials said.

The city portion of the funds will come from San Fernando’s cache of seized drug money.

The goal of the community policing program is to build trust and friendships between community members and the Police Department, Lt. Dan Peavy said.

“The concept is to have a consumer focus, somewhat like a business,” Peavy said. “You’re basically looking at, ‘What does the community see as the problems? And how can we resolve them?’ ”

The new position will be created as soon as the federal funds become available, with the new officer expected to be on the job by the end of summer, Rivetti said.