The San Jose Police Department has learned it is among 379 law enforcement agencies in 51 states and territories that will receive part of a $298 million grant from a U.S. Department of Justice program that creates or preserves law enforcement jobs.

The grant means that San Jose is now eligible for $7.1 million to fund the salaries and benefits for 16 entry-level police officers for three years. The city would have to guarantee funding for the officers for the fourth year, which city officials estimate would be $3.2 million.

The grant can also apply to rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.

Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits are the responsibility of the grantee agency. In San Jose's case, Budget Director Jennifer Maguire said the city expects it would have to pay more than $300,000 over the three years to make up the additional costs.

Maguire said the city has 90 days to decide whether it can accept the grant and its provisions. But before then, her office will have to consider how it fits into upcoming budgets; the 2011-12 fiscal year, for example, is already projected to have a $40 million deficit. There is also a planned elimination of 65 police positions by June 30 next year, and the possibility of making some police department jobs civilian positions.

Maguire said she expects that her office will make a recommendation about the grant to the city council in about six weeks.

The grant is from the Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and is being awarded under the COPS Hiring Program. Grants go directly to law enforcement agencies in an effort and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.