Chicago applying for grants to hire 400 new police officers

Chicago is applying for $106 million in federal-stimulus grants to hire 400 new police officers, even though there’s a costly string attached: When the three-year grants expire, the officers must remain on the city payroll for at least another year.

Mayor Daley is poised to lay off 1,504 city employees to help erase a threatened $300 million year-end shortfall unless union leaders agree to another painful round of cost-cutting concessions by July 15.

Although some economists — and even President Obama — see a “glimmer of hope” that the prolonged recession may be winding down, Daley has been all doom-and-gloom. He expects the recession to drag on for years with the situation getting worse before it gets better.

How, then, can Chicago afford to assume the cost of federally funded police officers when the three-year grant expires?

“This is 2009. You have 2010, 11, 12 and 13. Truly, if the United States of America is not out of this recession [by that time], then we have major, major economic problems,” Daley told a news conference called to detail stimulus spending.

“By [20]13, we should be out of this. If not, then it’s much more serious than anyone ever predicted. . . . That’s three or four years away.”

Daley’s 2009 budget slowed police hiring to a crawl — with only 200 officers expected to be hired throughout the year.

But, Police Superintendent Jody Weis recently acknowledged that City Hall hasn’t even kept up with that snail’s pace.

Only one class comprised of 45 officers has entered the police academy for six months of training. No more classes have been scheduled.

As a result, the Chicago Police Department is more than 600 officers below its authorized strength.

And if Daley proceeds with the 1,504 layoffs, 296 civilian police employees will lose their jobs as crossing guards, detention aides and traffic control aides, forcing uniformed police officers to do jobs that have nothing to do with fighting crime.

The so-called COPS Hiring Recovery Program is similar to a police hiring program in place during the Clinton administration.

But, Chicago stimulus czar Pat Harney said this version is more generous.

“It’s a little more money toward us. They actually pay for the three years [of salaries]. We’re obligated to hire them for one additional year beyond that,” he said.