By the end of the month or early next month, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will have federal funding available to refit almost half of its body-worn camera systems and start outfitting a new training range.
US Senator Jerry Moran announced $245,000 in federal funds — already approved as part of a Congressional vote earlier this summer — as part of a visit to the Sheriff’s Office this past Friday. Funding will be available near the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30.
Moran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, says this is part of what used to be called earmarks and is now called Congressionally Designated Spending. He says this is a much better option than defunding police, a push that rose to prominence three years ago.
Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope says the timing was “spectacular” due to internal conversations about equipment. Cope says Moran’s office initiated the process and was accommodating throughout.
Over 40 percent, or $100,000, of Lyon County’s funding will go to refit nine body-worn camera systems for deputies. The Sheriff’s Office has 20 systems in place and the funds will finish out this refit cycle. The remaining $145,000 will fund equipment for a new range facility for specialized scenario-based and reaction-based training, although no dollars will go towards a building. Cope says the new facility will help deputies, Emporia Police, ESU Police and Safety and nearby county law enforcement agencies once it’s operational.
3:40 pm Friday: Moran announces $245K for Lyon County Sheriff’s Office body-worn camera systems, training range equipment
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has federal funding already in place for a pair of projects, one for ongoing law enforcement and another for an upcoming training venture.
US Senator Jerry Moran stopped by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office to announce $245,000 in total funds:
*Over 40 percent, or $100,000, will go to refit nine body-worn camera systems for deputies. The Sheriff’s Office has 20 systems in place and the funds will finish out this refit cycle.
*The remaining $145,000 will fund equipment for a new range facility for specialized scenario-based and reaction-based training.
Sheriff Jeff Cope thanked Moran for his efforts, saying the announcement is well-timed as the department is looking at potential options for range. Cope says a new facility will benefit Emporia Police and Emporia State Police and Safety. It could also be used by law enforcement agencies in nearby counties.
Moran helped to secure the funding as part of Congressionally Designated Spending through his work on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. The money is available regardless of whether grant paperwork is finished.
