BRISTOL, Va. – City police learned Wednesday that their department will receive the largest slice of a $4.9 million state anti-terrorism grant.
The city department is scheduled to receive $335,000 from the state Department of Homeland Security, according to a statement from Gov. Bob McDonnell. Forty-five police departments and sheriff’s offices statewide will share the grant.
Locally, the money will be used primarily to supplement the department’s bomb squad and special weapons tactical team, police Maj. Greg Baker said.
“We’re real excited about it,” Baker said. “We certainly couldn’t purchase this much equipment with our present budget situation. And this will be a boon for the citizens of Bristol because we’ll have even more capabilities.”
By comparison, larger cities such as Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, Charlottesville and Lynchburg are each due to receive between $285,000 and $302,000 each.
“My understanding is the grants are based on need. We have the only bomb squad on this end of the state. So if there was something of a terrorist nature somewhere in Southwest Virginia, we would have to respond,” Baker said.
About half of the city’s grant is dedicated to buying for the SWAT team a new armored vehicle that is resistant to chemical, biological, radiation and other types of attacks, Baker said.
The money also will be used to buy new protective equipment for team members and additional training. The department’s bomb squad also is slated to receive additional training and equipment through a portion of the grant.
The balance will be used to buy license plate readers, devices mounted inside police cars used to scan vehicle plates in search of stolen cars or people facing criminal charges.
Baker said the department plans to convert its current SWAT van into a crime scene investigation unit, replacing a truck that is in poor condition.
Law enforcement agencies from across the state filed requests for the money. Proposals were submitted through the governor’s office to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grants were issued by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, according to the statement.
“The foremost obligation of government is public safety,” Gov. Bob McDonnell said in the statement. “It is critical that all localities have the tools they need to protect citizens from threats to their communities.”
The grants are the latest installment in a plan to “fill gaps” for local law enforcement agencies, the governor said.
Around the region, sheriff’s offices in Scott, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties are each scheduled to receive $17,000.
dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532
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