NIU will hire four additional police officers by January with help from a $300,000 federal grant.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of $99.3 million intended to expand community-oriented policing efforts across the country.

A stipulation of the grant requires that the officers strengthen NIU’s homeland security strategy.

NIU Chief of Police Don Grady said the officers will be trained in critical incident response, dealing with hazardous materials and handling medical emergencies.

Grady could not explain further how the new officers might bolster homeland security.

The officers will be stationed primarily in the residence halls’ Community Safety Centers.

The Department of Justice said community-oriented policing is an effort to integrate police into the public to prevent crime.

“Instead of showing up after a crime and taking a report and trying to catch the bad guy, it’s really working proactively to address reasons from crime before it happens,” said Gilbert Moore, a spokesman for the Department of Justice Community-Oriented Policing Services.

Grady said officers are more effective when they interact with the community and build trust.

“Police can’t do all the work,” Grady said. “We are all one team.” He said people want to live in a safe environment and help provide officers with information.

With increased police presence, would-be criminals would be less likely to create problems, Grady said.

University Police will begin interviewing candidates in late November.

Moore said the grant is structured to pay a portion of the officers’ salaries during the next three years. Seventy-five percent of the salaries the first year, 50 percent the second year and 25 percent the third year will be provided. University funding will supplement the grant money.