Police gain funds for gang violence

The Susanville Police Department will receive a $36,300 grant for equipment to aid in the prosecution of drug, gang, violence and gun related crimes
enforcement.

The request for funds was submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the National Gang Strike Force/ Strategic Initiative after mayor Kevin Stafford’s signature Sept. 4.

On Sept. 3, the day before the city council’s meeting, it was discovered the department had been awarded the grant, but had not been sent the agreement.
Susanville Police Chief Kevin Jones asked for the grant approval’s placement on the agenda as an emergency.

Jones did so because the agreement was due Sept. 6 and without approval, the department would have missed out on the funding.
The funds will be fully reimbursed as part of the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s program.

As a basis for determining costs, the agreement — filled out by the department — gives a brief explanation of the services or goods provided for its basis of determining costs.

In the agreement it lists:
• Two GPS trackers and their two-year service.
• Two surveillance cameras, lenses and night vision adaptors.
• Two night vision monoculars.
• Two range finders.
• Two digital drug scales.
• Two heat sealers and packaging materials.
• Two crime scene camera kits.
• And a CD and DVD duplicator.