MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews)- Governor Kay Ivey has awarded more than $376,000 in grant funding to equip police departments across six south Alabama counties, including multiple in the Wiregrass area.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the nine grants, which were funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“These grants will make communities safer by helping to ensure that law enforcement officers have the tools and resources they need,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend city and town leaders for recognizing the need for a well-equipped police force.”
Cottonwood and Newville, both located in the Wiregrass, are among the grant recipients:
- City of Cottonwood – $24,000 to purchase a drug identification device that can scan suspected narcotics, like fentanyl, from a distance to avoid exposure.
The device will also be made available to Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties upon request.
- Town of Newville – $37,765 to purchase body armor, tasers, upgraded communications equipment, flashlights, first-aid kits and other essential police gear.
“Communities of all sizes deserve to have law enforcement agencies with up-to-date equipment,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “ADECA joins Governor Ivey in support of these grants to properly equip these essential first responders.”
Other grant recipients include departments in Opp, Luverne, Silverhill, Semmes, Orange Beach, Daphne, and Mount Vernon. These departments can use the funding for essential tools such as patrol vehicles, body cameras, license plate readers and upgraded dispatch systems.
