Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public safety committees back a suite of federal grants, AEDs and an ambulance purchase
Summary
Public Safety recommended consent for multiple grant applications from FEMA, DOJ COPS and other funders to replace a fire safety trailer, expand police hiring and training programs, deploy AEDs and bike patrols, and to purchase a replacement ambulance and other equipment.
The Public Safety Committee advanced a broad package of grant applications and a procurement to fund equipment and staffing for fire and police operations.
Fire and EMS
- Fire Chief Sergei Lash told the committee the department will apply for a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grant to replace a 19‑year‑old fire safety trailer; the request to FEMA would be roughly $237,797. He estimated a grant decision and procurement could take up to two years from application. The committee placed the measure on the consent agenda.
- The committee approved (by motion to suspend rules with a favorable report) a direct procurement without formal advertising to purchase one ambulance and required equipment from Penn Care Inc. The department said the vehicle will replace an aging alternative‑response vehicle used for low‑acuity calls; the quoted lead time from the vendor is about one to two months and the purchase was moved forward with a favorable report.
Police and grants
Police representatives briefed the committee on multiple U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant applications and one state Edward Byrne JAG application. The department requested permission to apply for and, if awarded, accept and expend grant funds for the following programs (committee recommended consent placement for all): • COPS LE Safer grant for virtual reality (VR) training expansion and community VR outreach (presenter cited an approximate award request of $290,000). • COPS ICAT grant for de‑escalation and integrated communications/tactics training (about $79,000 requested) required by the state. • COPS accreditation grant to create an accreditation manager position (two‑year competitive grant; no local match required) to centralize and maintain accreditation work currently split across multiple staff. • COPS hiring grant to fund hiring up to 10 police officers; the program limits reimbursement and is competitive. • COPS explorers grant to support youth explorer programming (about $120,000 requested) and related overtime for officers to run activities. • COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) grant to expand wellness programming, fund a part‑time consultant for physical wellness, continue a wellness mobile app, and build a dedicated wellness/stretching space in the department’s gym. • OCJS Edward Byrne JAG funds to purchase 12 bicycles and two e‑bikes for bike patrols, fund community outreach materials and overtime for bike detail and anti‑violence deployments; the request included a match of $25,000 on a roughly $101,000 package.
Additional equipment
Police and fire representatives also told the committee they will apply to the Gary Sinise Foundation for 25 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to place in frontline police cruisers; the foundation request was roughly $44,000.
Committee action and next steps
All grant applications were recommended for placement on the consent agenda; staff said many of the grants are competitive and, if awarded, will require grant agreements and related reporting. The ambulance purchase was advanced with a favorable report following a suspension of the rules. For competitive grants, departments will return with contract and budget details if awards are made.
