HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin have announced a $625,000 federal grant that will let the Hagerstown Police Department to hire five new officers.

The Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, Hiring Program, requires that all new law-enforcement positions funded by the program be filled by recent military veterans.

Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith tells the Hagerstown Herald-Mail that the grant is a win-win situation for the community. He added it will take more than a year for the positions to be filled.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)