Kenosha County committees accept DOJ de‑escalation grant, apply for interoperable radio funding and approve several routine items

Kenosha County's joint Judiciary & Law Enforcement and Finance & Administration committees voted to accept a Department of Justice COP Safer grant and to authorize an application for a state interoperable radio grant during a meeting that also handled personnel and facilities items.

Captain Tony Gonzalez, administrative services, presented a resolution to accept $66,448 from the Department of Justice to purchase two deployable "throw" phones, two years of data service for those devices, and two instructor‑level Force Science de‑escalation training courses. He said the training seeks to enhance safety, improve officer communication with the public, reduce liability and improve documentation. The resolution was moved and approved by the committees.

Sergeant Chris Sandler presented a resolution to approve the sheriff's office intent to participate in the state interoperable public safety communications system and to apply for the state Office of Emergency Communications interoperable radio grant. He said state statute (transcribed in the packet as "Wisconsin State statute 3 23 29 5 b 2") requires a written resolution of intent and a 20% local match. Sandler said the statewide grant pool referenced in the application was $3,000,000, the maximum one‑agency award is $50,000, and the county's 20% match for a full award would be $10,000; the county has $15,000 budgeted in the 2026 operating budget for upgrades and could cover the match if awarded.

Other approved items included the reappointment of Ruth Dyson to the Civil Service Commission through 2030, and a public‑works resolution authorizing the City of Kenosha to install a freestanding antenna on county property to improve fire radio communications; the antenna would be owned and operated by Kenosha Fire. The meeting also heard a quarterly general fund balance report that noted a modest general fund improvement for October and higher year‑to‑date sales tax collections.

Votes on the grant items were recorded by voice as "Aye" with no opposition noted in the transcript. Committee staff flagged that the interoperable radio application is an intent before an award and that the county has not yet been awarded the state funds; the 20% match is budgeted but the exact match amount depends on award size.