Santa Ana, La Habra Get U.S. Funds to Hire Police : Law enforcement: President Clinton passes out first of money from crime bill. It will provide 2,770 new officers across U.S., 20 of them in the two O.C. cities.

WASHINGTON — President Clinton unwrapped the first fruits of this year’s crime bill Wednesday, passing out about $200 million to communities nationwide--including more than $2.1 million to Santa Ana and La Habra--to hire more police officers.

The money, distributed to local communities that applied to the Justice Department for the funds, will go to hire 2,770 police officers across the country--the first installment of what Clinton hopes will be 100,000 more police over the next six years. The country now has about 550,000 police officers, Administration officials say.

Santa Ana expects to hire 15 police officers with its $1.7 million, while La Habra anticipates hiring five officers with $408,730, city officials said Wednesday. The federal grants will boost the ranks of Santa Ana’s sworn police officers to 413, and La Habra’s to 73.

“Any time you get additional funding it’s always welcome news,” said Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters. “Policing is not just arresting and apprehending people. It’s about long-term solutions to neighborhood problems. (The money) will help us prevent crime before it starts.”

Officials with both cities said they will begin hiring the new officers as soon as they receive the money.

Los Angeles County received the largest single grant--$3 million, which will go to hire 33 new officers. Also among the largest early beneficiaries were: Long Beach, which will receive nearly $2 million to hire 20 more police officers, and Compton, with $1 million for 10 officers.

In all cases, the local jurisdictions are required to pay part of the cost of the new hires and will be expected to keep them on the payroll after the two-year federal grants expire.

Administration officials emphasized that the money from the first round of anti-crime grants is going to parts of the country represented by both Democrats and Republicans. White House and Justice Department officials started the day armed with printouts showing that 44% of the money was going to congressional districts represented by Republicans--including funds to towns represented by Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who led the Republican assault on the crime bill in the House, and Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.).

Under the anti-crime package that Congress passed in August after an intensely partisan struggle, cities, towns and counties that wish to share in the $8.8 billion set aside for hiring police are required to submit plans to the Justice Department explaining how the new officers will be used in community policing projects that strengthen ties between officers and their communities. Justice Department officials determined the winners of the first round of grants by evaluating their policing plans and their violent crime and overall crime rates.

Times staff writer Martin Miller contributed to this report.