Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washoe County accepts nearly $1 million federal grant for rapid DNA equipment for sheriff's lab
Summary
The Board unanimously approved acceptance of a Bureau of Justice Assistance discretionary grant of up to $996,000 to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division for a regional Rapid DNA program covering a retroactive grant term Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2026.
The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved acceptance of a federal Bureau of Justice Assistance discretionary grant award for the Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division on April 15. The award, up to $996,000 with no county match required, is for a regional Rapid DNA program and covers a retroactive grant term from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2026.
County staff asked the board to authorize Sheriff Darin Balaam (referred in the staff report as Sheriff Balam) to retroactively execute the grant award documentation and direct the finance department to make necessary budget adjustments. The motion to approve the grant passed unanimously with no recorded opposition.
No additional program details, procurement steps, or deployment plans were provided in the meeting record beyond the grant description; staff said approval would allow the Sheriff’s Office to accept federal funds and proceed with the administrative steps required to implement the program. The county clerk recorded no public comments on the item, and the commission approved the grant when it was called for a vote.
