Randall County court authorizes BJA grant application to add two sheriff's-unit positions

Randall County commissioners on April 28 authorized submission of a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant application to fund staffing and equipment for a sheriff's "spear" unit. The initial request listed about $348,571.76 to fund one sergeant and one deputy plus startup equipment; commissioners debated whether to seek three years of salary funding to match the grant period.

A sheriff's office representative explained the unit's mission: proactive enforcement, narcotics and violent‑crime investigations, fugitive apprehension and related work. The presenter said equipment included vehicles, body armor and other investigator gear, roughly $76,000 per position for start‑up equipment.

The presiding officer pressed concerns about creating positions that depend on grant funding, asking how the county would handle personnel if federal funds lapse. Commissioners discussed adding two additional years of salaries to the application and the judge noted the grant deadline of May 11, which precedes the next court meeting. To meet the deadline, commissioners moved to authorize submission with the addition of the two years of salaries and empowered the judge to approve final application corrections; the motion carried 5–0.

The sheriff's presenter said the grant is one of several federal opportunities the office is pursuing, and staff noted that if equipment is purchased with grant funds those items would remain county property even if positions were not continued after the grant term.