Latest news with #CommunityOrientedPolicingServices
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Normal police get $750,000 grant to hire new officers
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — On Thursday, US Representative Eric Sorensen presented the Town of Normal with a check to help with public safety. The $750,000 grant from the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services also known as COPS. It allows the Normal Police Department to hire six new officers. Grant funding allowing Normal PD to hire new officers The funding was awarded in October with hopes of having a new officer within one year. At that time, the department was fully staffed with almost 90 people. Mayor Chris Koos said the department was fully staffed at the capacity of the Town's budget. Police Chief Steve Petrilli said they were in a position needing more officers due to the increase in calls for service and program expansions. 'Instead of doing that through the budget process, we decided to take some steps. And I give a lot of credit to my staff, to go through the grant application process,' he said. 'And now we're here. We've got elected officials that are advocating for our department, and ultimately got us six officers who are going to be used to fill needs. These officers were needed for certain programs. And that ranges from public safety to community engagement. And it was a huge success.' Petrilli said the department is currently on target to have new officers in six months. He added that he hopes to maintain those positions if federal funding is removed. Another big point of conversation with Sorensen was President Donald Trump's tariffs. He encourages people to reach out to his office to share their stories. Sorensen said blanket tariffs affect everyone. 'This is an additional tax on the working-class people in this country, and we have to stand up against it, but also we have to communicate where these things are going to hurt so that our neighbors understand what this means,' he said. 'Targeted tariffs do work. Ask any economist. They will tell you that targeted tariffs do work. But blanketed tariffs and trade wars do not.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Wire
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
908 Devices Receives $2M Order from the Texas Department of Public Safety for Drug Detection and Mitigation
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 908 Devices Inc. (Nasdaq: MASS), a pioneer in purpose-built handheld devices for chemical analysis, announces a $2M order from the Texas Department of Public Safety for its MX908 handheld mass spectrometry device. This investment in advanced tools for drug detection builds on an initial order placed last year for several MX908 devices, and is funded through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant, a federally funded, state-administered program. We're proud to support the Texas Department of Public Safety with advanced tools for illicit drug detection and identification, such as the handheld MX908 device, to keep our communities safe and to help save lives. Share The MX908 provides first responders with fast, actionable information when dealing with unknown threats. It detects and identifies trace amounts of hazardous substances, including synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes, counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs in various forms. "Fentanyl is a national crisis, with fentanyl-related deaths in Texas up 158% from 2020 to 2023,' said Kevin J. Knopp, CEO and Co-Founder, 908 Devices. 'We're proud to support the Texas Department of Public Safety at this critical moment, as communities and all levels of government mobilize to confront the rise of illicit drugs like fentanyl to help save lives.' This order for multiple MX908 devices shipped in April and these devices will be deployed throughout Texas to critical interdiction locations. Agencies including the Criminal Investigations Division and Narcotics Enforcement will benefit from the technology as they continue to modernize frontline detection capabilities in the face of the opioid crisis. For more information about 908 Devices and the MX908, visit About 908 Devices 908 Devices is revolutionizing chemical analysis with its simple handheld devices, addressing life-altering applications. The Company's devices are used at the point-of-need to interrogate unknown and invisible materials and provide quick, actionable answers to directly address some of the most critical problems in vital health and safety applications, such as the fentanyl and illicit drug crisis, toxic carcinogen exposure, and global security threats. The Company is headquartered in the heart of Boston, where it designs and manufactures innovative products that bring together the power of complementary analytical technologies, software automation, and machine learning. For more information, visit Forward Looking Statements This press release includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected uses and capabilities of the Company's products. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement, including the risks outlined under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on the SEC's website at Additional information will be made available in the Company's annual and quarterly reports and other filings that it makes from time to time with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results. The Company has no obligation, and does not undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statement made in this press release to reflect changes since the date of this press release, except as may be required by law.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunbury installs 50 new cameras across city
SUNBURY — Nearly 50 new surveillance cameras across Sunbury are up and running, and city officials have kept a much more watchful eye on the project. Alert Enterprises LLC of Kulpmont, has been installing the cameras since last year, Councilman Jim Eister said. Keith Tamborelli, owner of Alert Enterprises, said 27 cameras were placed in and around Fort Discovery, Sunbury Ice Rink, the skate park and the softball fields, while an additional 10 are already in place across the city. Tamborelli said the new system has audio and video and is being installed by Alert Security Services, a division of Alert Enterprises LLC. Eister said he is happy to see progress and that the city saved thousands of dollars thanks to Tamborelli's help. Tamborelli used to be a Sunbury police officer. According to Sunbury Treasurer Kevin Troup, the city has spent $32,466 on the updated version of the cameras. Tamborelli said the new system is hardwired to receivers, which then sends a signal back to an app, which is monitored by police and city officials, Tamborelli said. This system is the first in place since a 2013 debacle that blindsided city officials. Sunbury paid Global Security Tactics, of Greensburg, $232,254, for installation and maintenance of about 50 cameras throughout the city. The funding included a $200,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice thanks to efforts by then-U.S. Rep. Chris Carney. City council and then-Mayor Dave Persing all said they were unaware of the problems with the cameras until they were notified by the police department which began to have several issues with pulling video footage. The cameras were immediately shut down, officials said. An investigator from the U.S. Department of Justice visited Sunbury in 2019 as part of an ongoing investigation into that project, officials said. The federal review was initiated in July 2018 when Joel Wiest, the city's solicitor, was instructed by council and then-Mayor Kurt Karlovich to contact the Department of Justice regarding the federal grant. City officials determined in 2018 the cost to upgrade and or repair the system was too much for the city budget, according to Troup. According to City Administrator Derrick Backer, he has not heard a word from the DOJ on the status of the investigation. DOJ officials have said they won't confirm or deny any investigations. Moving forward, Eister said the city plans to enter a second phase of camera installation, including at City Hall, various intersections and entrances and exits to the city. 'The cameras are working fine and in the future we will be placing more throughout the city,' he said. Police Chief Travis Bremigen said he is happy to see the city moving forward with a new system inside the department that will be accessible to his officers if needed. 'The upgrades at the police department are for the integrity and safety of our officers at the department and our system here will be moved to City Hall,' he said. 'The cameras going to City Hall will do the same for the building and area on Market Street to provide the same safety.' Mayor Josh Brosious said he is thrilled to see the city get the upgrades. 'These cameras help us combat crime and hold people accountable,' he said. 'These cameras will help make Sunbury a safer place with the assistance of this technology.' Eister said Phase 2 of the camera project will be underway in the spring.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cortez Masto, Grassley push for grants for small police departments
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing to launch a grant program to boost resources for small law enforcement departments across the country. Dubbed the Invest to Protect Act, the legislation would set aside $250 million over the next five years to help local police invest in training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention. 'Nevada's small police departments deserve more access to critical funding to keep communities safe,' Cortez Masto said in a statement. 'I'll always stand up for our law enforcement, and this bipartisan bill is simple – it gets our police in rural, suburban, and Tribal communities the resources they need.' The funding would be available only to departments with a maximum of 175 officers. According to law enforcement associations, 90 percent of U.S. police departments have fewer than 50 law enforcement officers. The funding could be used for a variety of training activities for officers, including responding to active shooter situations or people with mental health issues. It would also help with funding graduate degrees in social work and related fields. The funds would also be available for retention bonuses for officers who commit to staying in a small police department for at least another three years. The funding would be doled out through the existing Community Oriented Policing Services program administered by the Department of Justice. 'Law enforcement in Iowa and across the nation are struggling with low recruitment and retention rates,' Grassley said in a statement. 'Our bipartisan bill would unlock access to critical resources, allowing local law enforcement to grow and strengthen their forces. As always, I'm proud to back the blue and will continue to protect and support our courageous officers.' Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) all signed on as co-sponsors. Updated at 10:38 a.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
27-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Cortez Masto, Grassley push for grants for small police departments
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing to launch a grant program to boost resources for small law enforcement departments across the country. Dubbed the Invest to Protect Act, the legislation would set aside $250 million over the next five years to help local police invest in training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention. 'Nevada's small police departments deserve more access to critical funding to keep communities safe,' Cortez Masto said in a statement. 'I'll always stand up for our law enforcement, and this bipartisan bill is simple – it gets our police in rural, suburban, and Tribal communities the resources they need.' The funding would be available only to those departments with a maximum of 175 officers. According to law enforcement associations, 90 percent of U.S. police departments have fewer than 50 law enforcement officers. The funding could be used for a variety of training activities for officers, including how to respond to active shooter situations or those with mental health issues. It would also help with funding graduate degrees in social work and related fields. The funds would also be available for retention bonuses for officers who commit to staying in a small police department for at least another three years. The funding would be doled out through the existing Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program administered by the Department of Justice. 'Law enforcement in Iowa and across the nation are struggling with low recruitment and retention rates,' Grassley said in a statement. 'Our bipartisan bill would unlock access to critical resources, allowing local law enforcement to grow and strengthen their forces. As always, I'm proud to back the blue and will continue to protect and support our courageous officers.'
