Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said 12 of the 42 new deputies joining his office this year received training in June and additional hires are planned for July.

Recruits who received field training in June will be assigned a patrol vehicle after a review board gives approval, Herman said.

The deputies the department will hire in July will go through a polygraph test and background checks before training begins, he said.

The new deputies will patrol Precinct 4 parks and other assigned areas, including neighborhoods in which homeowners associations contributed funds for additional patrols.

The cost of each officer is about $100,000, which includes salary, insurance and payments on police vehicles.