The Corbin Times Tribune's staff writer Jeff Noble's article which appeared in the 10/01/2014 issue.

Corbin Police will be working in tandem with the Corbin Independent Schools, thanks to a federal grant of nearly $250,000 awarded to the city.  As a result, two of the city's police officers will work in the school district as school resource officers.  The grant — a Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS Hiring Program grant — comes from the U. S. Department of Justice. At an actual total of $249,950, the money's part of a program designed to build safer communities, and is the highest amount awarded to four cities in Kentucky.

Corbin City Manager Marlon Sams got the news Monday afternoon. He said the program will probably start at the end of this month.  "It's a school resource effort between the police and the school system. They'll be based at Corbin Middle School and Corbin High School during the school year. When the school day is over, they'll be back on their regular police job." Sams said in an interview.

Superintendent Ed McNeel added Wednesday the program will enhance relations with the schools and police.  "We already have a good partnership with the Corbin Police Department and this will bring that to a higher dimension. This will allow the officers to develop a close relationship with the staff and schools. They'll be there with the other kids and interact with them and the staff," he said.

The grant lasts for three years. Sams noted the city came up with a local cash match requirement of 25 percent.