City gets $13.5M for law enforcement

Philadelphia will receive $13.5 million toward law-enforcement costs as part of $2 billion in spending announced by President Obama yesterday.

Mayor Nutter's staff declined to say how the money would be spent, but scheduled a news conference for Monday to discuss the stimulus program.

The cash is part of the $787 billion stimulus bill Obama signed into law last month.

The federal Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, named for a New York City police officer murdered while guarding a witness, is based on population and violent-crime statistics.

Pennsylvania is receiving $72.4 million, with 60 percent going to the state and 40 percent to counties and municipalities.

Obama announced the funding in Columbus, Ohio, at a police academy graduation. The class of 25 was laid off mid-training in January but reinstated after the city learned it would get funding.

The White House, in a news release yesterday, said the money could be used to hire or maintain police officers, to operate task forces and crime-prevention programs or pay for courts and corrections costs. The release cited 23 cities and states that already have plans for the money.

Some examples:

_ Boston is using the money to avoid laying off police officers.

_ Cincinnati will keep operating a violence-reduction program.

_ Providence will use it to pay police officer overtime.

_ San Francisco is increasing patrols in high-crime areas.

_ Colorado Springs is restoring recently cut civilian police jobs. *