Governor Mike DeWine's new four million dollar grant program is supposed to help local law enforcement agencies address violent crime throughout the state.

"Public safety strategies are constantly evolving, and these funds will help ensure that local agencies have the tools they need to protect our neighborhoods and hold violent offenders accountable," said Governor DeWine.

The funds can be used toward equipment, training, focused deterrence, hot-spot policing, technical assistance, crime gun intelligence centers, crime reduction initiatives and more.

However, law enforcement officials argue that the money may not be enough.


"The four million dollars sounds like a lot but the reality is, is $4 million dollars does not go a real long way with 88 counties," said Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene.


It's a competitive grant, meaning agencies will have to prove their need for the funds.

Sheriff Greene says cities seeing an uptick in crime like Youngstown would be able to put the money to good use, several different ways.


"It's going to be probably task forces or different agencies that have initiatives, much like Youngstown is doing," said Greene. "With the collaboration with multiple agencies and doing different saturation patrols and trying to get guns off the street and drugs off the street, a lot of times that reduces crime itself, just a heavier law enforcement presence," he said.


Other local police chiefs tell 21 News they would like to see the money go toward more man power but are unsure if it can be used that way.