ELYRIA — The Elyria Police Department learned today it would receive an $812, 000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to hire four police officers.

The COPS grant will pay for salary and benefits for three years with the city receiving allocations of roughly $270,000 each year.

Three officers will be assigned to the Neighborhood Impact Unit and one will work the down-town beat patrol.

Mayor Bill Grace said the city can start the hiring process immediately. They will go through the Civil Service eligibility list and soon start screening candidates. The officers could be hired within the next couple of months.

The city aggressively and regularly applies for grants and will continue to do so even if a upcoming levy that will be on the November ballot passes, Grace said.

“This is a short-term boost to the department during this difficult financial time,” he said. “It’s a nice help, but it doesn’t meet our overall needs as the police levy is presented to address. We will always work to get outside money to better stretch resources in the Police Department. Grants like this will hopefully one day allow us to open the jail.”

Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.