(CENTREVILLE) – A new deputy has been hired by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, through a government paid incentive.

The Michigan Commission On Law Enforcement Standards Grant has been around for two years and has $20 million to share with qualifying agencies.

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman shares how the grant works. ...... {LISTEN}.

Bingaman explains how it works in their department. ...... {LISTEN}.

Bingaman says like many other businesses, law enforcement is not seeing candidates wanting to be officers like they have in the past. He says by having programs like this available makes it more attractive for people to become police officers.

The new deputy is Hunter Zinsmaster. He is a Mendon native who has worked seasonally for the Sheriff Department’s Marine Patrol Division.