Finance committee forwards $9,000 state gun-violence overtime grant for Annapolis police

The Finance Standing Committee gave a favorable recommendation on SA 3-26 on Sept. 3, sending a governor's office gun-violence reduction grant of just over $9,000 to the Annapolis Police Department (APD) for overtime staffing.

Captain Amy Meggeth, captain of administrative services for the Annapolis Police Department, told the committee the award was smaller than the department requested but will be used for officer overtime targeting communities that have experienced gun violence and to serve warrants for people wanted for gun crimes. "We applied for more funds than we received, but we received just over 9,000 for overtime for officers to work in communities that have experienced gun violence and to make arrests, to for people wanted for gun crimes," Meggeth said.

Nut graf: Committee members asked how the smaller award compared with past grant awards and how many overtime hours the money would purchase. Meggeth said APD has not received the grant in recent years, that the department had requested roughly $40,000 this round, and that the award will pay approximately 20 hours for a supervisor and about 103 hours for an officer.

In discussion, members noted the award was smaller than past grants; Meggeth said state funding for the program has declined and the department was "happy to get it, this time at least." A motion to recommend approval passed without recorded opposition and will move to the full City Council.

Ending: The committee did not amend conditions on the grant; staff will proceed with the accepted award and the item will advance to the council for final acceptance.