You end up reducing some other program that had nothing to do with this. When you look at it over time, there is not enough federal incentive to justify it. As crime rates fell, some towns found they had officers they didn't need and couldn't support. Anita Lowary, city finance officer of Groton, S.D., a city of 1,200, said it has been nice to add a third officer to the city's force. But to keep him after the grant expires will mean a local tax increase.
COPS officials say the program has accomplished much of what it set out to do.
He said the emphasis on community policing under the program has helped departments improve relations with citizens in many cities. Two-thirds of the cities and towns in America got grants under the program, he said.