Stimulus aid could go to fight gangs

Law-enforcement agencies in Washington are eligible for $36 million in additional funding through the new federal economic-stimulus act — money that sheriffs in the Puget Sound area say they could use to help stem gang violence.

King County, which has an annual sheriff's budget of about $135 million and cut 86 jobs during the last budget year, is eligible for $4.8 million in grant money for community-based initiatives. The office is still deciding how it would like to use the money, but spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said it could be used in gang enforcement — particularly to boost the number of police officers assigned to schools. King County currently has 12 such officers.

Pierce County is eligible for $2.1 million, and Snohomish County is eligible for about $300,000.

The funds are especially important because staffing levels are low, said Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick. "On the national level, we haven't had attention to public safety the last eight years," he said.