Custer County applies for LEAF and Edward Burn Memorial Justice grants to boost enforcement and training

The Custer County Board of Commissioners voted April 8 to authorize submission of two grant applications from the sheriff’s office: a state LEAF grant to fund high-visibility impaired-driving enforcement and demonstration materials, and a federal Edward Burn Memorial Justice grant to purchase a decision-making training system, mobile fingerprint scanners and wellness resources for first responders.

Sheriff Rich described the LEAF grant as providing about $6,500 that could be used for overtime enforcement shifts, DUI-awareness goggles and other educational demonstrations for local events and schools. He said the Edward Burn Memorial Justice grant would fund a scenario-based decision-making training setup that deputies could run locally (rather than traveling to a distant facility), and could be made available to neighboring counties for a fee.

Commissioners asked about match requirements and chances of award; staff replied that the LEAF application requires no local match and that competition for federal grants varies. Rich said grant writers had prepared the applications and that awards are not guaranteed: "we're applying with millions of other" jurisdictions, he said, meaning competition is stiff.

Motion and vote: A motion to submit both grant applications was moved, seconded and approved by the board.

What’s next: Staff will submit the applications and notify the board when award decisions or funding amounts are announced; project spending would follow grant conditions if awarded.