APPLICATION BACKED FOR POLICING GRANT.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Hoping to expand community policing in local neighborhoods, the city is applying for a federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant that could bring about $200,000 in September for the program.

The City Council on Tuesday approved applying for a $178,145 grant that requires a cash match by the city of $19,790.

Adele Macpherson with the city's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department said she expects the city to receive the full award or slightly less - enough to implement the program in a few months.

``We wanted to implement a COPS (Community Oriented Policing) program and put officers in areas we want them. But we didn't have the money,'' Macpherson said. ``When we heard about this money, we thought, great. We should apply.''

Los Angeles County already has begun community policing programs in Val Verde and Canyon Country, Macpherson said. The program allows officers to get involved in local communities while helping residents take crime-fighting steps themselves, she said.

``Getting cops back in the community is a very effective way of policing an area,'' Macpherson said. ``And it builds community leadership. It helps communities police themselves.''

The city has received federal local law enforcement block grant money before, Macpherson said. The money was used to address youth crime, establish drinking and driving checkpoints, and support other programs around the city, she said.

``When we applied then, that's what the need was for,'' she said.

Once the city receives the grant money, planning sessions will be held to decide where and how the funds should be spent, Macpherson said.