Thread: MI. county will use a $2.3M grant to help secure the border

Police agencies land $2.3 million grant


By STEPHEN TAIT
Times Herald
• February 26, 2009


St. Clair County law enforcement agencies will use a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help secure the international border.
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Jeffrey Friedland, the county's emergency management director, said the money is slated to pay overtime for police patrols and for surveillance equipment such as night-vision goggles.

The police departments that will get money are: the St. Clair County Sheriff Department, Port Huron, St. Clair, Marine City, Algonac, Marysville, Clay Township and the Michigan State Police.

Friedland said officials were authorized in mid-January to start using money for overtime. He said so far it "has been very beneficial."

Friedland said the extra money equates to about 1,000 hours of

police patrolling per month.

"It's significant," Friedland said of the grant.

Friedland said agencies still are working out details to use the grant for buying equipment and will start to buy items within a month.

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, officially will present local officials with a check representing the grant during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at the county administration building, 200 Grand River Ave. Miller is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee.

Marysville Police Chief Mark Thorner said it is nice to get the money because more densely populated regions usually get federal grants.

"I think it greatly enhances the safety of our community," he said. "I think that having the visibility of extra officers out there as a major deterrent is a huge plus for St. Clair County."

Sheriff Tim Donnellon said the grant will help the department staff officers on the road and the water, including the department's dive and rescue team.

He said Friedland worked very hard to get the grant and "the community is going to reap the benefits."


# Contact Stephen Tait at (810) 989-6275 or at stait@gannett.com.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/2 ... 60303/1002

God bless them. I hope they are successful.