Rural law enforcement, prosecutor offices in Texas to receive $225M in grants to boost salaries, hiring

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices received about $225 million in financial assistance from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

The grant is expected to help ensure professional law enforcement and legal representation throughout the state.

“Many rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices have lacked the resources they need to attract and retain personnel or to buy much-needed safety equipment, and this program bridges that gap,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. “These men and women form the backbone of rural communities across the great state of Texas, and it is critical that we ensure they have what they need to keep Texans safe and secure."

The grant program allows the Comptroller’s office to administer the following to counties with populations of 300,000 or less:

• Rural Sheriff's Department Salary Assistance Grant - used to provide specified minimum salaries, give salary increases, hire additional deputies or staff for the department, or to purchase safety equipment, firearms and vehicles for the sheriff's department
• Rural Constable's Office Salary Assistance Grant - used to provide a minimum salary of $45,000 to an elected constable who makes motor vehicle stops in the routine performance of the constable's duties
• Rural Prosecutor's Office Salary Assistance Grant - used to increase the salary of assistant attorneys, investigators or victim assistance coordinators, or to hire additional staff