Toledo police detail proposed purchases

10/3/2002

Forensic lab renovations, a harbor patrol boat, Safety Building security cameras, rifles for directed patrol officers, and advanced helicopter pilot training highlight the list of items Toledo police want to buy with more than $492,000 in federal grant money and matching local funds.

The list was presented yesterday during City Council's public safety committee meeting. The $432,298 federal grant would be matched with $48,033 in local funds. The grant and match are expected to generate $12,000 in interest, giving officials $492,331.

More than $225,000 would be used to help renovate and buy new equipment for the forensic lab, which has not been updated for more than 25 years. Chief Mike Navarre called the lab's conditions “deplorable.”

About $70,000 would go toward buying a harbor patrol boat to replace a vessel that is nearly 20 years old. Officials earmarked about $50,000 last year for the purchase. A new boat is expected to cost about $124,000. More than $65,000 would replace old mobile and portable radios. Cameras and access cards for police headquarters downtown would be bought for about $35,000.

About $22,000 would buy five rifles for directed patrol to replace rifles that have had problems with accidental discharges.

The same amount of money would be used for helicopter rental, insurance, and examiner fees for three aviation unit officers to earn their commercial pilot's licenses.

The remaining $22,500 would buy computer and in-car video cameras, hand-held security wands, and a global positioning system and base station radio.