Bartholomew County approves $290,000 COPS grant application and awards sheriff vehicle and upfitting contracts

Major John Martoccia, a Major with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, told commissioners the office is applying for $290,000 through the federal Community Project Funding program administered by the COPS Office to reimburse fleet upgrades and bolster drug enforcement capabilities. He said the grant requires a budget but no county match. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the application.

Martoccia also presented the Sheriff's Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report for asset forfeiture. He reported a beginning fund balance of $460,674.85, total receipts of $4,260.52, expenditures of $186,381.53 for law‑enforcement equipment, training and education, and a remaining balance of $278,553.84 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025. The department will submit the report electronically to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury. Commissioners approved the certification.

Sergeant Andrew Whipker reported on vehicle procurement and recommended purchasing five 2026 Chevrolet Silverados from Chevrolet of Columbus at $49,020.00 each, for a total of $245,100.00. The commissioners unanimously awarded the bid as recommended. Whipker then presented quotes to upfit six 2026 vehicles with patrol (PPV) equipment: Signal Ten, LLC quoted $15,450.00 per vehicle (total $92,700.00) and Move Over Outfitters quoted $17,836.07 per vehicle (total $107,016.42). The board awarded the upfitting work to Signal Ten; the sheriff’s office noted Signal Ten would outsource window tinting and Axon camera installation as needed.

All motions related to the grant application, equitable‑sharing certification, vehicle purchases and upfitting were approved unanimously.