ORDER N0. ~BQ~SGi
RE'P'ROVE UNIVERSAL HIRING PROGRAM RE'P'LICATION
On this the GBth day of April, ~~~u, ~_rpon motion made by
Commissioner Lett, seconded by Gammissioner Paldwin, the Go~_~rt
unanimously approved by a vote of 4-~-Q~, the I'.err, Go~_~r~ty
Sheriff's Department applying for the Universal Hiring Program
by a grant thra~_igh the COPS Office, which wo~_tld enable the
Department to s~_rpplement the c~_irrent sworn force.

COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: W.R. Hierholzer OFFICE: Kerr County Sheriffs Office
MEETING DATE: April 28, 2003 TIME PREFERRED:
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
Consider and discuss approval for Kerr County Sheriff's Department to apply for the Universal Hiring
Program through the COPS Office, which would enable the Department to supplement the current sworn
force. A minimum 25 percent match is required.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: Sheriff Hierholzer
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 5 minutes
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and
552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be
appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request
Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
Apri128, 2003
TO: Ken County Judge Pat Tinley and
Ken County Commissioners' Court
FROM: Sheriff W.R. Hierholzer
RE: Universal Hiring Program
Consider and discuss approval for Kerr County Sherii~s Department to
apply for the Universal Hiring Program through the COPS Office, which
would enable the Department to supplement the current sworn force. A
minimum 25 percent match is required.
All grant recipients must develop a written plan to retain any COPS-
funded officer positions awarded for at least one full local budget cycle
after federal funding has ended.
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
~~ Fact Sheet
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Universal Hiring Program






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,~. i, ;.i,y ; i~., ~ ;.
he Universal Hiring Program (i.IHP) is
one of several programs developed by
the Office of Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS) to increase the
number of officers on the beat. As state, local,
and tribal law enforcement embrace the
challenges of securing ow- homeland, this is
now more important than ever.
A decade ago as crime was soaring, law
enforcement officers were rushing from
incident to incident. Today, nine years after
the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 was signed into
law, officers are walking the beat again.
Citizens now know the officers policing
their neighborhoods. Officers and citizens
are partnering to develop creative and
innovative ways to deal with long-standing
problems, as well as the emerging needs of
homeland security and defense.
Supporting Loca! Law Enforcement
The COPS Office has awarded hiring grants
through several programs over the course of
its history. COPS formed the Universal Hiring
Program in 1995 to supersede early programs
such as Phase I; Accelerated Hiring,
Education. and lleployment (AItEAD); and
Funding Accelerated for Smaller Towns
(I'AS"I'). UHP enables interested agencies to
supplement their current sworn forces, or
interested jm•isdictions to establish a new
agency, through three-year federal grants. To
date, COPS has invested more than $4.9
billion to hire over 66,000 law enforcement
professionals through UHP and the hiring
programs it superseded.
Adding Officers to the Street
Funding Provisions
The National Strategy for Homeland Security,
the Administration's roadmap for securing the
homeland, highlights the key role that state
and local governments play in responding to a
terrorist attack. In addition, terrorism
preparedness and prevention have become key
responsibilities for state and local units. All
policing agencies, as well as jurisdictions
seeking to establish new policing agencies,
are eligible to apply for this program. Priority
consideration will be given to those
applications that demonstrate a use of funds
related to terrorism preparedness or response
through community policing.
UHP grants cover up to 75 percent of the
approved entry-level salary and benefits of
each newly hired additional officer position
over three years. There is a maximum federal
contribution of $75,000 per officer or deputy
position over the three-year grant period. A
minimum 25 percent local match is required.
The match must be a cash match from funds
not previously budgeted for any law
enforcement purpose. Funding will begin
once the new officers have been hired on or
ater the date of the award, and will be paid
over the course of the grant.
Waivers of the local matching requirement
may be requested tinder UHP, but will be
granted only upon a showing of extraordinary
fiscal hardship.
COPS offers a variety of
publications, products, and..
training opportunities to
advance community policing
and support its grant programs.
COPS publications and products
offer insights and experiences
from others in the field
addressing specific problems
including:
/ Law Enforcement Responds
to Terrorism: Lessons in
Prevention and Preparedness
/ Problem-Solving Tips: A
Guide to Reducing Crime
and Disorder Through
Problem-Solving
Fartnerships
/ COPS Collaboration Toolkit
COPS also sponsors training
opportunities and conferences to
give law enforcement
professionals an opportunity to
learn, network, and exchange
ideas. COPS publications and
training opportunities are posted
at COPS Online at
www.cQps.usdoi.eov.
COPS grant funds must not he used to replace
local funds that agencies otherwise v\rould
have devoted to sworn officer hiring. "1'he
hiring of otficers under UHP must be in
addition to, and not in lieu of, officers that
otherwise would have been hired with local
funds. All grant recipients must develop a
written plan to retain any COPS-funded
ofTcer positions awarded for at Icast one full
local budget cycle after federal funding has
ended. This plan must be clearly specified in
the Retention Plan Certification form that all
applicants are required to submit at the time
of their application.
Funding in Fiscal Year 2003
"I'he COPS Office has approximately $100
million available for L?HP and plans to otter a
new open solicitation in late April 2003.
Applications for UHP will be available at
COPS Online in late April enabling interested
parties to download the application.
Applications can also be requested by calling
the IJ.S. Department of Justice Response
Center at 800.421.6770. Application kits will
be mailed to interested parties as soon as they
are available.
There is only one deadline, June 6, 2003,
for this solicitation. All applications must be
postmarked on or before that date to receive
consideration. Applications postmarked after
that date will not he reviewed. All grant
awards are subject to the availability of
funding.
Contact COPS
For more information, call the
U.S. Department of Justice Response Center
at 800.421.6770, or visit COPS Online at
www.cops.usdoj.eov.
Updated Apn19, 2003
e03031913