By City Times staff

WOOD COUNTY – The U.S. Justice Department has announced nearly $400 million in grant funding for community policing.

The grants are being distributed to 596 law enforcement agencies nationwide, allowing them to hire 2,732 full-time law enforcement professionals.

Agencies in the Western District of Wisconsin were awarded more than $2.25 million. The agencies receiving the funds will be able to increase the number of officers they have to address the most critical crime issues in their communities, according to Scott Blader, U-S Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Applicants for funding had to identify a specific crime and disorder problem, then explain how the funding will be used in community policing approaches for that problem.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Department is receiving $280,000 in funding through the grant program.