Block Grant 15PBJA24GG05573JAGX

THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, IS A HISTORIC COMMUNITY FACING SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES, INCLUDING VIOLENT CRIME AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY EXACERBATED BY ITS LOCATION AS A TRANSPORTATION CROSSROADS. THESE ISSUES ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE INHERENT RISKS OFFICERS FACE DURING NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS, AS THE PETERSBURG BUREAU OF POLICE (PBP) OPERATES TWO 12-HOUR PLATOONS, WITH EACH SHIFT SPENDING CONSIDERABLE TIME IN LOW-LIGHT CONDITIONS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES AND ENHANCE OFFICER SAFETY, THE PBP SEEKS $27,864 THROUGH THE FY 2024 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) TO PROCURE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS DURING NIGHTTIME INCIDENTS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL EQUIP OFFICERS WITH 100 TLR-1-HL-X WEAPON-MOUNTED LIGHTS AND 55 ALIEN GEAR RAPID FORCE DUTY HOLSTERS, TOOLS SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN FOR THEIR RELIABILITY, DURABILITY, AND COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING EQUIPMENT. THESE UPGRADES WILL IMPROVE VISIBILITY, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, AND RAPID RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS. TRAINING SESSIONS LED BY TRAINING SERGEANT JACKIE HERNANDEZ WILL ENSURE THAT ALL OFFICERS ARE PROFICIENT IN USING AND MAINTAINING THE NEW TOOLS. THIS INITIATIVE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, BEGINNING WITH PROCUREMENT, TRAINING, AND DEPLOYMENT IN YEAR 1. SUBSEQUENT YEARS WILL FOCUS ON EXPANDING EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION TO ADDITIONAL UNITS AND EVALUATING THE PROJECTS IMPACT ON OFFICER SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE. BY YEAR 4, THE DEPARTMENT WILL COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION AND INTEGRATE THE EQUIPMENT INTO ITS STANDARD UNIFORM ISSUANCE, SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENTS ANNUAL BUDGET. THE REQUESTED FUNDING WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL GAPS IN OFFICER SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL READINESS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PBPS BROADER MISSION OF REDUCING CRIME AND ENHANCING PUBLIC TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE CITYS GOALS OF FOSTERING A SAFER PETERSBURG AND SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF ITS RESIDENTS.