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Long Beach police report delayed boat grant, denied EV grant and shrinking reserve unit
Summary
Chief Mark Swistek told the commission FEMA has not released funds for a Homeland Security port security grant for a new police boat (boat currently in North Carolina), the department’s EV vehicle grant application was denied, and three reserve deputies left for full-time jobs reducing the volunteer unit from seven to four.
Chief Mark Swistek told the Long Beach Police Commission on July 2 that federal funding delays and a denied state grant will affect the department’s planned equipment purchases and staffing.
On a Homeland Security port security grant for a new police boat, Swistek said FEMA has not yet released the award funds. The boat is complete and sitting on a trailer in North Carolina; the department had hoped to have it for July 4 events but now expects delivery, if at all, in the fall.
Swistek also said the department’s application to the Indiana Office of Energy Development for three electric-vehicle police cars (a $248,000 request with a $48,000 match) was denied, as were other La Porte County applicants. He said the denial means the department will likely need to buy a replacement vehicle in 2027 rather than receiving grant-funded EVs.
Separately, the department applied for $65,000 in FY2027 community project funding for portable radio upgrades through Congressman Frank Mervan’s office; Swistek said that request has passed the first of three review hurdles and a decision is expected in spring 2027.
Swistek described vehicle-planning for a 2027 replacement assigned to Deputy Marshal Matthew Vopat and listed three model options — Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer interceptor and Ford F-150 interceptor — with a town-council purchase request expected in November or December and additional months required for manufacture and upfitting.
Personnel changes will also affect operations: Swistek said the department’s seven reserve deputy marshals will drop to four after three volunteers accept full-time positions (one to Kingsford Heights, one to Portage Police Department and one earlier to the Indiana State Police). Swistek said the reserve unit saves the town roughly $40,000 a year in overtime and that the department will seek recruits to rebuild the unit.
Swistek expressed disappointment about the denied EV grant and said he would continue seeking funding opportunities. No formal votes or policy changes were taken on these items at the meeting; the next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 3 p.m.
