The federal stimulus package could put more police officers on the streets.

The Aiken Department of Public Safety was recently approved for $62,119 in federal stimulus funds for equipment replacements and upgrades.

The department also has requested funds to fill four officer vacancies and $500,000 for mobile data terminals that would allow police to file paperwork digitally.

"It would mean more officers on the road, more visibility, more ride-throughs of neighborhoods," Chief Pete Frommer said of the yet-to-be-approved requests.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office has requested $1,484,270 to replace 10 crime suppression road patrol jobs that were cut about five years ago.

Mary Ann Gibbs, a finance official with the sheriff's office, said the department has qualified for the grant and should hear a decision no later than Sept. 30. She said that the grant would fund the salaries and benefits for three years.

"They look at your crime rate," she said of the qualification process.

Aiken's Chief Frommer said his request for four officers, if approved, would be for three years with a stipulation that the city continue to employ them one additional year.

Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said his department will not receive federal stimulus funds. He said his county didn't have a high enough crime rate to qualify.

On Monday night, the Aiken City Council approved a budget that reduced training and delayed some equipment replacements for the public safety department.

The federal money will now help with the equipment delays. Aiken's $62,119 will replace 89 decade-old pistols ($11,237), add 10 new in-car camera systems ($42,547) and buy patrol car radar devices ($2,730), three emergency-light bars ($4,830) and two tire-deflating devices ($774).

Chief Frommer said replacing old equipment helps taxpayers because new items require less maintenance.

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office also was approved in April for a stimulus grant of $173,120 to replace a SWAT vehicle and other gear, said sheriff's Capt. Troy Elwell.