Putnam County committee approves BJA grant application for behavioral‑health response; officials give detailed radio project update

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. — At its March 11 protective services meeting, the Putnam County Legislature approved an application to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for a law enforcement behavioral‑health response grant and heard a detailed update on the county’s multi‑year radio modernization project.

The committee voted to authorize submission of the BJA grant application. Presenters said the county’s current federal grant for a mental‑health crisis responder expires Sept. 30, 2025, and the proposed BJA award would be a three‑year grant running from Oct. 1, 2025, to Oct. 1, 2028 if awarded. Committee discussion said the grant is a matched award with a 20% county match in the first two years and a 60% match in year three; award amounts are discretionary, with announcements up to $550,000, and presenters said the county will not seek the maximum award.

Committee members were told the county will file the application this month and that, if the existing federal funding is not extended, the county would seek budget relief through its…