Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced $1 billion in funding across the nation including $3,344,620 for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to hire 20 deputies. Under the COPS Hiring Recovery Program, the ESCO will be required to maintain the positions in their own budget for an additional 12 months. Only four agencies in Florida — the Miami Police, Jacksonville Police, Polk County Sheriff and Pasco County Sheriff — received funding for more officers than Escambia County.