Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Silver Lake and Mentone will benefit from President Clinton's expanded federal support of local law enforcement.
The Department of Justice approved Community Oriented Policing Services grants last week. The grants were estimated at $66,677 for Silver Lake and $17,111 for Mentone to be used over a three-year period.
One full-time officer will be added for the next three years at the Silver Lake Police Department.
Mentone's part-time officer has been volunteering his time to the town since 1993. The town will use the grant toward the salary and training of the part-time officer.
Frank Banghart Jr. will be training one week a month over a three-month period in early 1997.
Mentone town Marshal Tim Carpenter applied for the grant in March.
Plymouth and Culver round out communities in Congressman Steve Buyer's district selected for COPS grants.
The COPS program awards grants to local law enforcement agencies providing up to 75 percent of the total salary. Funding begins immediately with the award of the grant.
