Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Public safety committee approves multiple police and fire grants, renews 911 agreement
Loading...
Summary
The Charleston City Public Safety Committee on April 28 approved a series of grant applications and awards — including Byrne and Homeland Security grants totaling more than $340,000 in awards or requests — and renewed an intergovernmental agreement for consolidated 911 services. All measures passed by voice vote.
The Charleston City Public Safety Committee on April 28 approved a set of police and fire grants and an intergovernmental agreement to continue consolidated emergency communications.
The committee voted to approve after-the-fact submission of an FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) application for $51,890 to purchase protective equipment for patrol officers; committee members recorded no opposition on the voice vote. The chair noted there is no local match for that award.
Members also approved a separate FY27 Edward Byrne JAG application of $43,272 to purchase new bicycles for the bicycle patrol program. The FY27 request requires a 10% local match of $4,327, which the chair said would be included in the city’s 2027 budget if the grant is awarded and accepted.
The committee approved a $50,000 juvenile-justice support grant application to the Annie E. Casey Foundation to support the Charleston Police Department’s High Flyers program for high-risk youth. The chair said no local match was required for that grant.
Police and fire representatives also sought approval of a renewal of the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to continue consolidated emergency communications services. A staff member (referred to as Steve at the meeting) confirmed the IGA terms are substantially the same as the prior agreement; members approved the renewal by voice vote.
Fire officials won approval to accept two 2025 Homeland Security grants: $40,000 to support a Type 4 urban search and rescue (USAR) team and $45,000 to support a Type 3 incident management team (IMT). The chair said both awards carry no match requirement and no fiscal impact in FY26 or FY27. Members approved both grants by voice vote.
Finally, the committee approved acceptance of an FY25 Byrne DNA capacity enhancement grant totaling $200,000 to increase DNA lab personnel and software capabilities to reduce forensic turnaround times. The chair said the grant would fund a personnel position for roughly two years and any request to retain the position after the grant period would be considered in the 2028 budget.
All items on the agenda were approved by voice vote with the chair announcing "the ayes have it," and no recorded nay votes were captured in the committee’s oral vote.
