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County seeks $750,000 federal grant for ESD radios as sheriff reports high jail population
Summary
The court authorized a $750,000 State Homeland Security grant application for Motorola radios to support local ESDs and heard the sheriff report a jail population of about 274 inmates, prompting discussion of capacity and inmate transfers.
Harrison County Commissioners on March 12 approved submittal of a 2026 State Homeland Security grant application requesting $750,000 to purchase radios for the county’s Emergency Services Districts (ESDs). The court noted quotes from Motorola and said the ESDs had requested roughly 234 units — a total equipment need estimated at about $2 million — and that any award would be allocated pro rata if full funding is not received.
The grant resolution was presented as a request from the sheriff’s office; the court approved the submittal unanimously. The grant application notes that if the county requests more equipment than funds allow, allocations will be prorated across ESDs rather than guaranteed in full.
Sheriff’s office leadership reported that the jail population remained elevated; the sheriff said the county was housing about 274 inmates as of March 4, and had temporarily released several federal inmates to free beds. The sheriff described ongoing operational pressure and said a recent acceptance of detainees by another agency provided some relief.
The court also approved routine donations to the sheriff’s office and discussed replacing a retired K‑9: donations from community members were accepted, and officials said the new handler and dog will undergo a bonding/training period of about four weeks with additional local bonding and certification expected before the dog returns to service in roughly eight weeks.
The radio grant request and the jail population were discussed as separate but concurrent public‑safety priorities. The court voted 5–0 to submit the grant application and to accept the listed donations.
