Fund the police? Pushed by Biden, Democrat mayors divided how to use COVID money to fight crime

WASHINGTON — After watching homicides in Lorain, Ohio, more than double, Mayor Jack Bradley adjusted quickly when he learned his city could use federal COVID-19 rescue funds to hire more police officers.

An old manufacturing town of 64,000 on Lake Erie, about 30 miles west of Cleveland, Lorain has grappled with 11 homicides so far in 2021, up from five at this time in 2020 and seven total in 2019. Rattling the city further, two auxiliary police officers were injured this month by bullets fired into their vehicle. 

Bradley thought using American Rescue Plan funds to beef up law enforcement wasn't an option. Then in a June 23 speech unveiling a crime reduction strategy, President Joe Biden encouraged mayors to use their share of $350 billion in aid on public safety that could include hiring more police officers.

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