Crime & Safety
Strongsville Police to Put More Officers on the Street
City to expand department with additional patrolmen
Strongsville plans to hire four new police officers this year, which will translate into two more patrolmen on the streets.
City Council agreed last week to expand the number of patrol officers from 50 to 53.
Police Chief Jim Kobak said the department currently has 49 officers, so it will take four to fill the roster.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to hire all four this year," he said.
Two will replace patrolmen who were recently promoted to take the place of officers who retired, he said.
The other two will bolster the patrol unit on the roads, which Kobak said will be good for Strongsville.
"I believe being out in the community is a big crime deterrent," he said.
Money for the additional officers is already in the budget, Kobak said. But the cost could be offset by a federal COPS grant, which pays a portion of a new officer's salary for three years.
Strongsville applied for the grant, but hasn't learned yet it it has been awarded.
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