Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2023, $18,957)
Problem to be addressed: The problems that would be addressed by this grant cover the topics of officer safety equipment, crime monitor and recording, computer and digital forensics technology, remote surveillance, and training. This grant helps identify and resolve areas that can better help protect and enhance our officers in multiple ways. New updated equipment and training are great tools to aid in preventing crime and assisting with officer safety and knowledge. Our city has a population of 24,912 while the total population in Webster County Iowa is 37,147. We have a rather large crime rate in our area when compared to other areas our size. The main areas of crime include, drugs, assaults and theft.
Goals: The main goals of this grant opportunity are to enhance our criminal activity detection, and deterrence, while at the same time maintaining highly trained and safe officers/deputies within the community we serve. This grant gives us an opportunity to provide some vital equipment and gives multiple technology upgrades.
Strategies:
Narcotics Training for Drug Task Force Members - This is an annual class to upgrade the officer's knowledge, skills and abilities, leading to better and safer performance of their duties.
Covert Cell Phone Surveillance Software - This item will maintain a yearly software and maintenance fee for our technology used in undercover narcotics duties. This will be purchased via cost sharing between the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff's Office.
Faraday Box - This item is designed as a protective environment (box) in which to securely store and forensically examine the contents of a cellular device, without the threat of remote evidence destruction. This item will be purchased via cost sharing between the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff's Office.
Computer & Accessories - This item is a computer and accessories such as monitors, keyboard, mouse etc. It is for the purpose of helping officers conduct their duties during this modern age where nearly all reporting and administrative processes are conducted via computer. This purchase will help ease budgetary confines for items such as this that need to be routinely replaced.
Ballistic Shield - This item is for the safety and protection of our officers during times where the threat posted to them is such that it would require a shield in order to avoid being injured or killed.
Shotgun Furniture - This purchase allows for attaching bright orange indicator furniture to the exterior of an ordinary shotgun, thus simply indicating to the user that the item is designated for non-lethal use.
Evidence Gathering & Operations Tools - This purchase allows for the acquiring of general and specialized tools available to gather evidence or conduct operations. An example of a specialized tool may be a "Halligan" tool commonly used by firefighters for entry and rescue into vehicles. An example of general use tools may be a hammer, saw or wrenches, needed to retrieve bullets lodged in a vehicle or structure