LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police plan to use a $250,000 federal grant to hire two officers to help fight gang crime.

The city applied for a U.S. Department of Justice grant in May. Lincoln mayor Chris Beutler says the two officers will likely be paid from the city’s budget after the three-year grant expires.

Public Safety Director Tom Casady says the city’s overall crime rate fell by nearly 8 percent last year. But Casady says that was largely due to a drop in property crimes.

Beutler says that meanwhile, gang member numbers have increased as has the intensity of their crimes, noting three homicides last year.