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These DPD vehicles showing the recently renovated city logo — and other police vehicles — will soon be outfitted with interior computers, provided by a JAG grant received this week.

DPD awarded grant

By David Snow (Contact) | Demopolis Times

Published Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Demopolis Police Department received a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) of $60,192 that will be used in getting equipment for Demopolis and Marengo County officers and their vehicles.

“We are going to give the Marengo County Sheriff’s office $10,484, and we’re keeping $55,708,” said DPD chief Tommie Reese.

“We plan on purchasing a transport van for prisoners. Right now, we’re using cars to go back and forth down Highway 43 (to the Marengo County Jail in Linden). We’re going to purchase some walkie-talkies, some new radar equipment and we plan on purchasing some Fatal Vision goggles. Those will give you the simulation of being drunk, and we’ll use that at the schools with the school resource officer. It will give the kids the effect of how alcohol distorts your vision.”

This grant brings the total of the monies the department has received through grants up to about $91,000, and DPD has been given the go-ahead by the Demopolis City Council to apply for another $13,000 JAG grant.

“It’s competitive,” Reese said of the grant process. “If your paperwork is all there, they don’t mind giving it to you if your information is correct and you have a good plan as to how you are going to utilize it to develop the community.”

Reese said he has received positive feedback regarding the COPS grant (Community-Oriented Policing Services) that could provide funding for up to seven additional police officers for three years, provided the city would fund them for a fourth year.

“I got a response from them saying the paperwork was all in order,” Reese said. “They said that we would be hearing back from them. They didn’t say, ‘Yes’ or give a definite answer, but I feel good about it. The response from them means that you are in line somewhere.”

Reese added that the department was moving on buying computers and spike strips for the DPD vehicles.

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