WATERLOO - Mayor Tim Hurley has asked the City Council to give some serious thought to a request for more police officers.

The council is expected to make a decision Monday on whether to hire four to five officers under the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program. The grant provides money for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly hired, full-time, sworn officer positions.

"This is replete with opportunity, but it's also got some real scary parts to it, and I just don't know what to do," Hurley told the council during an agenda meeting Thursday.

The COPS Hiring Recovery Program requires grantees to retain the officers for a year upon completion of the grant.

And that's where the issue lies, Hurley said. The first year the officers essentially are free to the city, although the city would pick up the tab for any pay raises or insurance increases during the next two years.

Then the fourth year, the city is responsible for covering those officers' salaries, which could cost around $350,000, Hurley said.

"All (Police Chief) Tom (Jennings) would have to do is go through the calls for service last night, and there's no doubt we could use more officers," Hurley said. "I know what I want to do, but I don't know if the downsides are worth it."

Jennings said the fifth year, the additional positions could be absorbed through already scheduled retirements within the department.

"I don't think we'd have to lay anybody off," he said.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 715 Mulberry St. A council work session begins at 4:20 p.m. Committee meetings include Boards and Commissions, 4:50 p.m.; Building and Grounds, 4:55 p.m.; Public Safety, 5:00 p.m.; and Finance, 5:05 p.m.

Contact Tina Hinz at (319) 291-1484 or tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com.