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Council approves grant-funded purchases for police: ballistic shields, vehicle radios, dispatch interoperability
Summary
Council approved grant-funded purchases to equip patrol officers and update radio systems. A small shortfall for ballistic shields and a minor vehicle-radio cost overrun will be paid from the department’s asset-forfeiture account; a dispatch interoperability purchase came in under the award amount.
The Freeport City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to accept and approve three police equipment purchases tied to state and federal grants: ballistic shields, vehicle radio upgrades and dispatch radio interoperability work.
Miss Howell and Detective Fernandez presented the items. Howell said the department received a grant award for ballistic shields totaling $95,602.05 but that inflation and an updated vendor quote raised the price to $97,005.20 for 14 shields. That left a shortfall of $1,918.27, Howell said, which the department proposed to cover from the asset-forfeiture fund so the police budget would not be affected.
For vehicle radio equipment, Chief Allen said a U.S. Department of Justice grant requested $131,005.24; an updated quote increased the cost to $133,009.19, a marginal additional expense the department proposed to cover from asset forfeiture. Council discussed asset-forfeiture balances and how those funds are generated; staff said forfeiture proceeds come from civil proceedings and sales and are separate from the city’s general fund.
The dispatch interoperability project was presented as coming in under its award. Staff said the original quote was $144,232.70 and that an updated quote dropped to $143,710.73, so no additional city funds were required.
Council members praised staff for successful grant applications and asked whether the department would pursue further grants to acquire additional ballistic shields to reach the original 20-unit target for patrol. Howell and the chief said the department intends to reapply for grants and to explore private or industry partners if needed. The council approved all three items unanimously.
Votes recorded: ballistic shields (agenda item 2f) approved unanimously; vehicle radio equipment (agenda item 2g) approved; dispatch interoperability (agenda item 2h) approved unanimously. Staff said the shortfalls would be covered from the asset forfeiture account and no general-fund amendment was required.
What happens next: Staff will finalize vendor contracts and complete procurement steps, charge the small shortfalls to asset-forfeiture funds as approved, and continue to pursue additional grant funding to reach the department’s equipment goals.
