(Tulsa, OK) - The Tulsa Mayor's Office announced plans during a city council committee meeting Tuesday to re-hire 35 laid-off Tulsa police officers, using money from a federal Justice Assistance Grant or "JAG" grant.

It's the same JAG grant that was part of the failed contract talks which resulted in 124 Tulsa officers being laid-off.  But with federal approval, it can re-purposed for this new plan.

The $3 million grant would pay for the 35 officers for a period of 17 months.  There was discussion about re-hiring a larger group of officers for a shorter period of time, perhaps 12 months.  But Interim Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan feels the 17-month plan provides greater stability.

"I want to get as many people as I can, but I want to make sure I retain the ones I get," Jordan said.

The city is hoping it can get federal approval and re-hire the officers before the end of the week, otherwise it will have to pay them thousands in severance money.  But that federal approval is being delayed by the massive snowstorm that has struck the nation's capital.