Sheriff’s Office wins board backing to apply for Operation Ceasefire grants for forensic equipment and training

Detective Sergeant Caleb Smith of the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office told supervisors on Oct. 9 that two state Operation Ceasefire grant opportunities could bolster local violent‑crime investigations with training and forensic‑analytic tools.

Smith said one program, referred to in his presentation as the Operation Ceasefire Grant (OCG), offers up to $500,000 per agency and a separate forensic and analytical technology opportunity (OCG Forensic) carries a $300,000 maximum. “The recipients are not required to provide matching funds,” Smith said, and purchases are reimbursed on a quarterly basis after the county submits required documentation.

Smith described the Forenscope SuperSpectral camera — “This is the Forenscope Super Spectral” — as the largest single item the office would seek under the forensic grant. He said the device photographs beyond the visible spectrum to reveal blood, gunshot residue and subdermal bruising that may be missed by the naked eye. Smith also outlined smaller items and services the county would request if the grants are awarded: a PolyCam iPad subscription for 3‑D scene capture (about $400 per device per year, limited to the life of the grant), protective equipment to expand realistic active‑shooter and tactical training, and specialized training such as the Virginia Gang Investigator Association course for a detective.

Smith told the board he had confirmed with grant staff that once a quarterly reimbursement report is filed the county should receive payment “within weeks.” He said the agency has tested similar tools elsewhere and cited Westmoreland County’s routine use of the SuperSpectral system as an example of real‑world utility.

Board members asked about admissibility in court and about whether the grants require a local match; Smith answered that the equipment and documentation would be prepared to courtroom standards and reiterated the grants’ reimbursement model. After discussion, a motion to approve pursuit and acceptance of the grants passed by voice vote.

The board did not adopt any purchase list or formal contract at the Oct. 9 meeting; Smith presented vendor quotes and timelines and said grant awards would start Jan. 1, 2026 if successful.