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On Monday Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. [D-06] announced the Asbury Park Police Department was awarded a $474,055 U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS] grant.

“Safety is of the utmost importance for ensuring growth and success in our communities,” Pallone said in a written statement. “Adding two police officers to the Asbury Park Police force is an important step towards a safer community for the people of Asbury Park.”

While the police department added two new officers to its force in July,  they were hired as replacements for retiring members, officials said at the time. Asbury Park previously received COPS grants of $1.6 million in 2011, $625,000 in 2013 and  $750,000 in 2014 to hire a combined 16 police officers.

“Asbury Park is experiencing unprecedented growth in the number of businesses, residences, and visitors,” Acting Police Chief Anthony Salerno [shown at right] said. “This Grant is important as it allows the City to hire two additional police officers which will go a long way in helping us keep the City residents, businesses and visitors safer.”

Similarly, Pallone announced at summer’s end that the Asbury Park Fire Department will receive $269,310 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response [SAFER] grant.

“I am very pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has selected the Asbury Park Fire Department to receive this federal grant,” Pallone said.  “These funds will allow Asbury Park to hire additional firefighters and first responders, making the community an even safer place to live. It is critical that our brave first responders have all the tools necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and themselves in the case of an emergency and I will continue to support federal funding in these areas.”

Fire Chief Kevin Keddy said due to being a city under transitional aid, the department is technically on a hiring freeze.

“We’re a transitional aid city, so the first thing we have to do is get a waiver,” Keddy said. “Anytime we want to hire anyone, we have to explain why. It’s a waiver process that goes to our fiscal monitor for approval.”

The fire department did add a new member in February but that was to replace a retired firefighter. If approved, the fire department will add two new officers, bringing its 48 member crew up to 50, although DCA recommendation for the unit is 54.

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