BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Bellingham Police Department is about to get a boost to its budget.

The city council will vote on Monday, May 18 to accept a grant award funded by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission.

A state public safety bill signed into law last year created a $100 million grant program designed to help law enforcement agencies add more positions.

BPD has been awarded $3.7 million, most of which will be used to support the department’s Alternative Response Team and offer additional training to current officers.

Three officer positions that were frozen as part of the city’s 2026 budget cuts will be partially reinstated with the grant funding. Two new full-time roles will also be added and supported through the grant.