The Vicksburg Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Department will be getting nearly $326,000 worth of new equipment this year if a pair of federal Justice Assistance Grant applications are approved.

Vicksburg aldermen approved applying for $60,365 through the fiscal year 2009 JAG program at a special called meeting Wednesday morning. North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, who ran unopposed in this year’s election, approved the application. Mayor Laurence Leyens was absent from the meeting.

Marcia Weaver, who prepares grants in the city’s planning department, said the city has already applied for an additional $265,607 in JAG program funds made available via the $787 billion federal stimulus package. JAG program funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Both pots of grant funds would be split evenly between the city and county forces, and would require no local matches. Both departments have been benefiting annually from JAG program funds since 1997, said Weaver.

Vicksburg Police Deputy Chief Richard O’Bannon said the city department is requesting to purchase forensic equipment that helps detectives better view video evidence with its share of the $60,365 grant.

“It allows you to view analog videos frame by frame, and see things that you would actually miss if you just watched the video or tried to pause it in certain places,” said O’Bannon. “The state (police force) has one and Biloxi has one, but I do not know of another agency in the state with this technology.” 

Weaver said the sheriff’s department has listed new patrol cars as its desired use for its share of the annual grant funds and the larger pot of JAG funds available via the stimulus package.

Vicksburg police would like to purchase crowd control barriers for use during parades and festivals with its cut of the stimulus money, said Weaver. Vicksburg police recently received a new 30-foot mobile command unit — which was paid for via JAG program funds in 2007 — and it would also receive some additional equipment with the one-time grant funds. The command unit was used for the first time during Riverfest in April.

Weaver said the city will find out later this year if the applications are approved. The board on Wednesday also authorized advertising for public comments on the use of the fiscal year 2009 JAG program funds. Those who would like to submit comments may send them to Weaver at the Vicksburg Planning Department, P.O. Box 150, Vicksburg, MS, 39181.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com