Council approves $235,000 state grant for SPPD ordinance disposal unit boat purchase

The Saint Paul City Council voted unanimously to accept a $235,000 grant from the 2024 State Homeland Security Program to purchase a boat for the St. Paul Police Department’s ordinance disposal unit, a capability the department said it currently lacks.

Assistant Chief (St. Paul Police Department) explained the ordinance disposal unit — Saint Paul’s explosive‑ordnance team — is one of a small number of teams nationwide trained for underwater explosive device mitigation and that the city’s position on the Mississippi River creates a need for a boat to approach waterborne incidents from the river rather than from shore. “They identified a gap in our capabilities. We don't have a boat,” the assistant chief said. The grant award will allow the unit to respond to incidents in river ports and to assist other state teams as needed.

Council members asked whether the funding carried any federal cross‑jurisdictional conditions; Assistant Chief said the award is state funding and the department had no concerns about federal oversight or related issues. The council also heard that the unit is reimbursed for ordinance disposal work outside the city when dispatched through the state duty officer.

The council approved the grant and an accompanying amendment to the police department’s financing and spending plan. The motion to accept the grant passed by voice vote with all seven members voting in favor.