Ohio gets grant to hire vets as police

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - A dozen Ohio communities are splitting nearly $7 million in grants to create or save law enforcement jobs that must be filled by recent military veterans.

Toledo police receive more than $1.8 million for 15 officers. Sgt. Joe Heffernan tells The Blade newspaper Toledo needs more officers, and people with a military background often have experience that fits well with police work.

In northeast Ohio, the city of Akron gets $1.5 million for 12 officers, and the Cuyahoga County sheriff gets $1 million for eight officers. The recipients of smaller grants include Canton, Greenfield, Portsmouth and Youngstown and the villages of McArthur, Mingo Junction and Russells Point.

The money awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice is part of $111 million for 800 law enforcement positions nationwide.