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Steamboat Springs — With less money available from their overseeing commissions and local government, Routt County law enforcement agencies are looking for grants from state and national organizations to fund day-to-day operations and special enforcement programs.

Oak Creek Police Commissioner Chuck Wisecup recently completed a $796,000 grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The COPS grant, if approved, would allow Oak Creek officials to reinstate the town's police force by hiring three officers, including a chief, for three years, as long as the town would agree to fund the officers for one additional year.

Wisecup said if the town receives the grant funding, a decision that will be announced in early September, the town will have to "start saving our pennies for the next year."

Steamboat Springs Police Department Capt. Joel Rae said that despite tight budgets, more grants are available to fill the voids.

The department also is requesting a COPS grant, for about $540,000, to pay for three entry-level police positions for three years. Rae said this grant and an equipment grant were made available through the federal stimulus package.

The department also requested about $58,000 for equipment and training, including firearms, ammunition, Tasers, digital video recorders and emergency response team supplies.

But with police departments across the country vying for federal dollars, Rae said it's too early to start counting on the funds.

"The information I have from COPS is that there are numerous requests and a very high demand," he said. "Over the past months, there have been more grants available to law enforcement agencies and (especially) rural law enforcement agencies."

The police department regularly applies for and receives grants, Rae said, including the "Click It or Ticket" seatbelt enforcement grant and the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund grant.

The Colorado State Patrol's Troop 4B also uses grants for enforcement above standard patrols, said Capt. Rich Munroe. Troop 4B covers Jackson, Grand, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties.

The troop relies on a state grant writer to apply for funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation, Munroe said, netting $15,000 for this year for Click It or Ticket and intoxicated driver enforcement.

Relying on grants to fund operations also can have downsides, said Routt County Sheriff Gary Wall. When grants require administration and reporting, Wall said they sometimes can cost organizations more money than they can afford.

Nevertheless, Wall said his office filled out an application for a $350,000 COPS grant, but it was not passed by a county budget review.

"Grants are difficult in (that) there are lots of strings attached to them, federal strings which result in monitoring reports," he said. "I'm supportive of grants, but on the other hand is how much administrative work goes into them. You get this money, and you spend so much money administering, it's almost not worth it."