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Maryland jurisdictions will receive $23 million from a federal grant program to hire new police officers, Vice President Joe Biden announced Tuesday.

The money, part of a $1 billion national fund set up under the federal stimulus plan, comes through the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services program, known as COPS.

Prince George's County received $10.6 million — the most funding in the state — to hire 50 officers, the maximum number allowed under the program. Baltimore city received $10.1 million to hire 50 police officers. In addition, various municipalities in Prince George's County and on the Eastern Shore also received funds to hire between one and five officers each.

Under the COPS program, the funds must be used to hire police for at least three years. Counties and municipalities must agree to pay new officers out of their own pockets for a fourth year.

A spokesman for the Prince George's police department, which had sought funding for 131 positions under the grant, said they were pleased with the outcome.

"It was sorely needed," said Maj. Andy Ellis. "It comes at a very good time. We do not want to see crime coming back up due to the economy."

The money will likely be put to use in the next few months as the department begins training a new class of recruits, Ellis said. The force currently has about 1,700 officers, though officials estimate the force needs 2,000.

Prince George's received the most in the state because of its challenges, a Department of Justice official said. The county has the highest rate of foreclosures in Maryland and the second highest crime rate in the state — two major factors used to score applications.

"I'm not proud to say this since this is my county," said Gilbert Moore, a Bowie resident and DOJ spokesman. "The funding went to the areas with the highest concentration of fiscal devastation and crime."

Baltimore city's $10.1 million will pay for the same number of officers, but was less because of the pay scales used in the city, Moore said.

In Prince George's County, the city of Laurel received $726,000 to hire three officers, Bladensburg received a $221,000 grant for one position and the town of Riverdale will get up to $300,000 to hire up to five officers.

Money can also be used to rehire officers who have been laid off or to bring back retired officers for intensive work with at-risk communities, Moore said.

On the Eastern Shore, the city of Cambridge will get $356,000 for two police officers, the town of Princess Anne will get $87,000 for one officer and the city of Salisbury is receiving $795,000 for four new police.

Staffing the Prince George's police force has been an ongoing concern. Officials have had to furlough employees and cut back hiring to adjust to budget shortfalls. The Prince George's County Council voted July 21 to require about 6,200 county employees to take 10 days of unpaid leave in an effort to save about $18 million this fiscal year. The furloughs include about 1,500 county police officers.

Moore was unsure whether the grant funding could be used in place of furloughs.

"That's something the county would have to work out with the grant coordinator," he said.

Ellis said the department had not considered reversing furloughs with the money and had planned to hire new officers instead.

"That's not been in any discussion I've heard," he said. "We think these are for officers we otherwise would not be able to hire."

Demand for the grants was high this year, Moore said. Departments across the country had applied for more than $8.3 billion – eight times the amount budgeted.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.