31 Kentucky law enforcement officers are either being hired or re-hired as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder have announced $1 billion in grants for the cause, with more than $5 million headed to Kentucky.

The Recovery Act grants will be administered through the Department of Justice through the Cops Hiring Recovery Program.

One department we spoke with says it's help that's much needed.

"Y'know, our budget got cut, and we lost eight deputies," Warren County Sheriff Jerry 'Peanuts' Gaines remembers.

In December 2007, his department suffered that setback.

"That was a big blow," Sheriff Gaines admits. "You take two people off each shift. Y'know, we have eight out, and it gets cut to six. It's an extra burden against the deputies working.'

Now, things are different for the Warren County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Gaines says he's known Vice President Joe Biden for 20 years, and he was listening today for this announcement.

"We knew the incredible strain of this great recession has put on every police department, every mayor, every county executive in the country," Vice President Biden announced in a press conference for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"We wound up getting two deputies and $368,000," Sheriff Gaines says. "That pays for their salary for three full years, insurance, salaries, everything. The fourth year, we'll have to pick up their salary from there."

The Warren County Sheriff's Department isn't alone in receiving funds in our area.

The city of Glasgow is receiving two officers and $310,494.

The Russellville Police Department is receiving one officer and $166,092.

The Morgantown Police Department is receiving one officer and $152,210.

"I'm just glad that we got them," Sheriff Gaines laughs. "This is a big day for our sheriff's department. Anytime you can get two deputies fully funded, y'know. I don't want to be hoggish about it, but we'll go for four or five more."

The Department of Justice received more than 7,200 applications for these grants.

Of those applications, 1,046 law enforcement agencies nationwide have been awarded grants.