St. Paul Police to accept state Homeland Security grant to buy boat for ordinance disposal unit

The St. Paul City Council approved a resolution authorizing the police department to accept a 2024 State Homeland Security Program grant and amend the department’s spending plan to purchase a response boat for the city’s ordinance disposal unit (bomb squad).

Assistant Chief Ford briefed the council on the ordinance disposal unit’s capabilities, saying St. Paul’s unit is one of five nationwide with underwater hazardous device capability and that the unit currently lacks a boat. “We don't have a boat. So if we were dispatched to an incident where there was a suspected explosive in the water in one of our ports, we would have to approach that problem from the land,” the assistant chief said, explaining that a boat is best practice for underwater mitigation.

The grant award was described in the resolution packet as approximately $235,000; the council motion also amended the department’s financing and spending plan to reflect related reimbursements and expenditures listed in the packet. Assistant Chief Ford said the unit responds to statewide requests and can be reimbursed when dispatched outside St. Paul. The department said the boat will expand the unit’s ability to respond to incidents across state waterways and at large events.

Council members asked whether the grant carried any federal conditions; Assistant Chief Ford confirmed the award is state funding and does not create federal compliance issues. Several council members thanked the police for appearing at the meeting to explain the capability. The council approved the resolution by voice vote with seven in favor and none opposed.

The resolution directs the police department to accept the grant and adjust its budget accordingly; staff said equipment purchases and training will follow the standard procurement and reimbursement process.