Gwinnett Police Get Grant Funds

Gwinnett Police Chief Charles Walters announced that his agency will get more than $500,000 in grants, share in $1 million in stimulus funds with other public safety and court agencies, and apply for another $260,000 grant to help support its programs and operations.

Commissioners took action on one grant on Tuesday and four other grants last month.

The latest grant in the amount of $452,807 grant comes from the Georgia Department of Homeland Security and will be used to purchase explosive ordnance disposal equipment. No matching funds are required for this grant and the equipment carries no operating costs.

An Emergency Management Performance grant of $100,000 also coming from the Georgia DHS is part of a performance partnership agreement established earlier. Matching funds are required but can be met with current salaries paid for staffing in the police department’s homeland security section.

The largest grant is a $1,065,466 Justice Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that must be used to reduce crime, improve public safety, or buy law enforcement equipment or technology in support of law enforcement activities. These are economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Several departments will share in these funds: Police, Sheriff, District Attorney, Administrative Office of the Courts, Juvenile Court and Corrections. The Police Department is applying for another $260,000 Justice Assistance grant. No local matching funds are required for either grant. Another $19,000 to support the Citizens’ Corps program comes from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

Walters said, “We’re pleased to accept all these grants, especially in this time of extremely tight budgets countywide. We will do our best to meet the needs of a growing county even as our regular funding declines.”