CALGARY - Back in the unwanted national spotlight over more violent crimes in his rapidly expanding city, Calgary police chief Rick Hanson hopes an infusion of federal cash will pay for about 30 new officers to hit the street by early next year.

Hanson's still waiting to hear how $8 million per year from Ottawa over five years will be divvied up among Alberta's police forces. But he said rough calculations should mean Calgary's in line for at least 30 of the 80 new officers that cash will cover.

The Calgary Police Service has been one of the more aggressive recruiters in Canada, scouring for new officers across Canada and overseas - from the sweaty locker rooms of junior hockey teams to the already trained ranks of London's Metropolitan police.

Hanson said Thursday that the force has recruits "stacked up and ready to go," and is just waiting for cash from the federal and provincial governments to make it happen.

"All we need is the confirmation of that money - that the money is there, how much are we getting and when are we getting it?"

On Wednesday, Ottawa announced it would give Alberta $42.4 million over the next five years as the province's share of $400 million targeted for recruiting 2,500 new police officers across Canada.

And while the behind-the-scenes struggle over that cash is just beginning, cries for a bigger police presence in Alberta's largest cities get louder in the face of recent crimes.

Two daughters flew into Calgary this week from Peterborough, Ont., to be at their father's bedside after he was viciously beaten while sleeping under some trees near the Greyhound Bus station.

The 46-year-old homeless man had just arrived over the weekend from Vancouver, looking for construction work. He was able to stagger into the bus depot for help before collapsing.

The man has since had surgery and is not expected to talk to police for days. His attackers remain at large and the motive remains a mystery.

Chief Hanson said unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen in large cities like Calgary, which has a rapidly swelling population of more than a million people.

"The reality is crime and violence and all that stuff happens in cities. And we're always going to be employed because it happens," he said.

"It's a constant challenge to have our resources placed in the best locations to prevent the crime from occurring in the first place and respond properly in the next instance when stuff happens.

"And that's why additional resources are going to be hugely beneficial to us - to increase our presence in the downtown core and elsewhere so that we can do a better job of addressing those issues before they happen."

Calgary needs several hundred new officers over the next couple years to make up for expected retirements.

And while 30 new officers falls far shy of what's needed, Hanson says at least the money "is something."

Edmonton is in a similar position and says it needs at least 150 new officers in short order. Police chief Mike Boyd said he would like to see his city's share of the cash go strictly towards increasing the number of officers on the street.

Alberta's police forces are also eager awaiting an infusion of provincial cash to bolster their numbers.

Fresh from his election victory last month, Premier Ed Stelmach gave each member of his new cabinet a list of priorities Thursday.

At the top of Solicitor General Fred Lindsay's list is to add 300 additional police officers over the next three years.

"Oh man, I think that's incredible if it's true," said Hanson.

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