By Myra Bean

Investigator Hunter Applewhite appeared before the Sardis Board at its regular meeting  Tuesday, May 7, and received permission to apply for seven grants which could be worth close to a combined $3 million.

The grants are different than the seat belt grant. These are for equipment the department needs like radios, batteries for radios, car radios, vests, training for officers, cameras in the car. They range from $5,000 to $700,000.

Applewhite said this will help the police department move into the future with equipment and technology so that they can be out on the streets working instead of dealing with broken equipment at the police department.

The first grant is Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers and Ensuring Officer Resilience Survivability (VALOR). The award top is $700,000 with a deadline of May 21 to submit.

The second grant is National Officers Safety Initiatives Program. This grant covers new car cameras that record things outside of the vehicle. The most a department can request is $750,000 and that’s what Sardis asked for.

The Strategies for Policing Innovation and the Wal-Mart Community Grants are the third and fourth grants which are general grants for anything. The department can buy tasers, lights and training. The grants range from $2,500 to $5,000.

The Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Environment Agencies is the fifth grant for body worn cameras only. Sardis needs two more, according to Applewhite, in case one camera goes down.

The department now has six cameras. This grant will also cover for the chief to go to Oxford to review policies and train officers how to use them in court. It also pays for training for usage and administration. Applewhite requested the $200,000 maximum.

The Beyond Our Rails Grant is the sixth grant which is also a general grant with a $700,000 maximum award. It pays for officers involved in senior events or for psychological help or training as examples.

The last grant is the Homeland Security Grant. This grant covers mobile radios. The city has three which are owned by the county and they want their own. Sardis needs three more radios and batteries to go with them because the current batteries are going bad. Applewhite has not found a maximum amount or required match from the city for the grant.