MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $86,874 to assist four police departments in south Alabama with equipment upgrades.  

“Our police officers need the proper equipment to make their jobs as safe and efficient as possible,” Gov. Ivey said. “The officers of these four departments are dedicated to protecting and serving the public, and I am pleased to assist them with new equipment that will help them do their jobs effectively and safely.” 

The city of Samson is using $23,909 in funds to purchase new equipment including laptops for patrol vehicles, gun racks for school resource officers, body cameras, Tasers, drug test kits, alcohol breath testers and radars. 

An $18,000 grant to the city of Florala will help the police department acquire a new patrol car to provide a safer, more reliable vehicle for officers while they’re on duty. 

The city of Opp is using $24,000 in funds to purchase professional photography kits and a live-scan palm fingerprint scanner for the Opp Police Department.

The city of Enterprise is using grant funds of $20,965 to purchase new patrol rifles, a ballistic shield and mounted radar units for patrol vehicles.   

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA manages a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation and water resources management.

“ADECA supports Gov. Ivey’s continued efforts to provide needed equipment to these police departments in south Alabama who are working diligently every day to protect the lives of everyone in their communities,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.

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