Stimulus Prompts Debate Over Police Funds   State and local law
enforcement officials are anxiously watching the congressional
wrangling over President Obama's economic stimulus plan, hoping
for an infusion of nearly $4 billion in federal funds even as
critics say the money would be spent with little oversight and
actually could hurt state and local budgets in the long term.
With both chambers of Congress debating what to include in
Obama's stimulus package - with different allocations for state
and local law enforcement in the competing House and Senate
versions - police agencies nationwide are turning up the
pressure in Washington, D.C.  Police chiefs, drug enforcement
agents and other law enforcers, warning that crime spikes during
recessions, say they will be forced to cut back on operations,
lay off officers or, in some cases, close their doors unless the
federal money reaches them soon.  Police advocacy groups favor
the $3.95 billion in law enforcement funds included in the
House-approved version of th