U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida issued the following announcement on June 12.
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida,announced the award of grants to four law enforcement agencies in the district, with a combined total of $975,300. Department of Justice grants are awarded to help those agencies respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grants – awarded to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, Panama City Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office – are being provided under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. Numerous other communities within the Northern District of Florida are eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the public are safe,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The resources of local agencies have been stretched thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they can continue protecting and serving our citizens.”
The grant awards announced include:
• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office: $370,107
• Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office: $127,963
• Panama City Police Department: $73,818
• Tallahassee Police Department: $403,412
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate medical needs.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for receiving the emergency funding. Local units of government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.
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