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Petersburg council approves FEMA, COPS grants to fund equipment and 17 police hires
Summary
Council unanimously approved amendments to the FY 2026 grants fund to accept a FEMA AFG award of $74,890.91 (with a $7,489 local match) for PPE cleaning equipment and a Department of Justice COPS grant of $5,664,825 to fund 17 sworn officers for three years.
The Petersburg City Council voted unanimously Nov. 18 to amend the FY 2026 grants fund after staff presented two new awards for public-safety programs.
Gary Cozier, the city budget manager, said the Fire Rescue division was awarded a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant ‘‘in the amount of $74,890.91 with a local match of $7,489’’ for PPE cleaning equipment, and the Petersburg Police Bureau received a Department of Justice COPS grant ‘‘in the amount of $5,664,825’’ to fund 17 sworn officers for three years.
Council opened the public hearing on the grants; no members of the public spoke. Vice Mayor Hill moved to approve the amendment, Councilwoman Smith Lee seconded, and Miss Hill called the roll. All council members recorded “Aye,” and the motion carried.
The council did not identify additional local match funding for the COPS award — staff said the grant will cover officer costs for three years — and the motion approved only the budget amendment to accept and appropriate the awarded funds. The finance office will reflect the grants in the accounting and report back in subsequent budget updates.
The action moves forward equipment purchases and hiring plans tied to the awards; implementation details and hiring timelines will be managed by the police and fire departments in coordination with the finance office.
