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Spencer County to pursue state homeland-security grant after string of vehicle burglaries
Summary
Spencer County Fiscal Court approved a resolution to pursue a Kentucky Office of Homeland Security LEPP grant to buy body armor and other equipment after the sheriff's office reported a recent string of vehicle burglaries and stretched night staffing.
Spencer County Fiscal Court voted June 17 to authorize application for Law Enforcement Protection Program funds from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security following a briefing on a recent wave of vehicle burglaries.
Chief Deputy Ware told the court that reports of car burglaries began in late January and have continued in a sporadic pattern, involving offenders who were both local and from other states. Ware said law-enforcement partners have worked a coordinated plan that has produced arrests; he also described patrol-staffing challenges, noting, "we had two guys in a 190-mile square area" at times, which he presented as a staffing strain on the sheriff’s office.
The court approved a resolution that authorizes the county to apply for LEPP funds and to execute documents as required by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (motion: Esq. Stump; second: Esq. Pharris; voice vote: approved). The agenda packet shows a requested LEPP project amount of $7,770.78 for body armor; the packet states the county could purchase the vests and seek reimbursement if the grant is awarded.
The sheriff’s office also noted other anti-crime measures under review: previously purchased Flock camera units await KYDOT approval for installation, and the department is pursuing a separate Homeland Security body-armor grant for new employees. Sheriff-office leaders described plans to expand public drug-awareness campaigns and noted Narcan dispensers already placed downtown.
The application does not guarantee funding; KOHS selects recipients and notifies grantees in writing if awarded. The court’s resolution authorizes the Judge-Executive to apply for and administer any resulting KOHS award.
If the grant is awarded, the county would either procure body armor and request reimbursement through KOHS or be reimbursed after making purchases, per the packet’s guidance.
