LYNN – The city is set to receive $320,000 in state funding which will be used to staff four new police officers.Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke awarded $4 million in municipal police grants to 13 communities Thursday that will result in the hiring of 50 new police officers across the state.Patrick said the funding is a product of a cooperative effort with the Legislature that is focused on providing crime-fighting assistance to communities that need it most.”This funding will allow communities to increase police presence at a time when municipal budgets are tight and local crime fighting resources are being stretched thin,” he said. “I appreciate the support of our partners in the Legislature that has made this funding possible.”Lynn Police Public Information Officer Lt. Dave Brown said the police department is pleased to receive the funding.”We are glad to be included, but we don’t want to comment until we are able to review the requirements and restrictions, if any,” he said.Springfield, Worcester, Fall River, Lowell, Holyoke, Lynn, Brockton, Chelsea, New Bedford, Lawrence, Fitchburg, Pittsfield and Wareham will each receive grants ranging from $546,000 to $160,000 to add new police officers to their ranks.Boston received $1.5 million in an earlier round of funding, helping to put over 130 new officers on the streets of the city.”Community policing works,” Patrick said.The communities were chosen based on criteria including population, violent and property crime rates, how many officers left the department from 2002 through 2005, and the current officer rate per 1,000 citizens.Senate President Therese Murray said keeping police officers on the streets is essential to preventing crime and increasing public safety.”In order for our cities and towns to thrive, people must feel safe at home,” she said. “These grants, along with the Community Oriented Policing Service Grants, ease the strain on communities’ budgets and increase the safety and security of our residents.”According to House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, violent crime continues to plague communities throughout the state, to which support on the front lines has become a top priority to combat over the years.”Combined with more than $40 million community policing funds and $22 million in Shannon Grants to cities and towns the last two years, these funds will put new cops on the streets across the state where they are needed most – in urban settings.”