OPD gets funding boost to hire new officers

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The Department of Justice is helping Oakland beef up its police force.

The city announced today it received a federal grant of nearly $2 million.

The money will be used to help hire 15 additional police officers.

Police Chief Sean Whent credits the growing force with a reduction this year in violent crime.

"The police department is growing and with that we anticipate we can have even better results, reduce crime further, help our response times and really help make the city safer,:" Whent said.

The chief expects to have more than 700 police officers by November. That would be the highest number since 2010.