Even at half-price, Maricopa council says cost for two new cops too steep

by Adam Gaub | Maricopa Monitor

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MPD Chief Steve Stahl presenting to the Maricopa City Council at the December 20, 2016 meeting.

Following impassioned pleas from the public, a spirited case from the chief of police and much back-and-forth discussion, the Maricopa City Council decided Tuesday it couldn’t add two new police officers to the force – despite getting some financial help from the federal government to do so.

In a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Christian Price casting the deciding vote after anguishing over his vote at the dais, the council voted not to pursue a COPS grant through the Department of Justice that would have partially funded two new Maricopa Police officers for the next four years.

The reason for those who voted against the proposal boiled down to financial risk.

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