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Shelby County accepts $135,279 state grant for Project Safe Neighborhoods; MOUs approved to pursue SRO reimbursements

Shelby County Board of Commissioners (standing committee hearings) · March 4, 2026

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Summary

The County committee approved a $135,279 state Project Safe Neighborhoods grant for the sheriff's office to fund overtime, field equipment and evaluation work. The committee also approved memorandums of understanding with three school districts required for state SRO grant eligibility; commissioners questioned eligibility criteria and abstained on one MOU vote.

The Shelby County Law Enforcement, Corrections and Courts committee on March 4 approved two linked items affecting the sheriff's office. Alicia Lindsey, chief administrative officer for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, asked commissioners to accept a state Project Safe Neighborhoods grant of $135,279 to support overtime for officers, field operational equipment (mobile mounts, firearm buffers, fingerprint scanners and sleeves), travel for three attendees to the national PSN conference and a research and evaluation line of $58,272. Lindsey said the grant requires a subrecipient agreement with Memphis Police Department for $43,781 and carries no general-fund match. The committee reported three aye votes and advanced the item with a favorable recommendation.

A related item authorizes cooperative MOUs with three school districts so the sheriff's office can apply for a statewide grant to reimburse school resource officer positions. Lindsey and Katie Mack, grants manager, explained that the state's MOU standard requires the county to document duties and responsibilities with participating school districts and that the school systems provide the list of eligible schools. Commissioner Brooks asked whether the state dictates which schools are eligible; staff responded that districts identify eligible schools and the SRO commander decides where to apply. The MOUs carried with two ayes and one abstention (Commissioner Brooks).

All attributions are to committee presentations and the clerk's recorded tally. The items will now proceed to the full commission on Monday with favorable committee recommendations.