Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the awarding of $4.9 million in State Homeland Security Program grants to local police and sheriffs’ departments all across Virginia. These funds will be used to acquire equipment crucial to fight crime and deter terrorist acts. Below is a complete list of the 45 departments receiving funds and the amounts awarded.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell remarked, “The foremost obligation of government is public safety. It is critical that all localities have the tools they need to protect citizens from threats to their communities. These funds represent the latest in a multi-phase plan to fill gaps in regional response and deterrence resources among local law enforcement agencies.”

The State Homeland Security Program provides funds to help build capabilities at the state and local levels through planning, training, exercise activities and purchase of needed equipment. Equipment scheduled for purchase with these grants includes incident response vehicles, personal protective equipment, automatic license plate readers and bomb squad gear. Potential recipients and equipment needs were identified through an analysis conducted annually by local law enforcement leaders, the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Based on the needs analysis, project proposals were developed and submitted through the Governor’s Office to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for review and approval. Once DHS approved, the grants were issued by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the administrative agency in Virginia for law enforcement grants under the SHSP program.

More information regarding grant opportunities with DCJS can be found at www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants

Grant Recipients and Award Amounts:

Albemarle County PD $17,000

Alexandria City PD $40,000

Arlington County PD $285,000

Augusta County SO $17,000

Botetourt County SO $302,000

Bristol City PD $335,000

Campbell County SO $17,000

Carroll County SO $17,000

Charlottesville City PD $302,000

Chesapeake City PD $42,000

Chesterfield County PD $285,000

Danville City PD $319,000

Emporia City PD $17,000

Fairfax County PD $40,000

Fauquier County SO $17,000

Franklin County SO $17,000

Fredericksburg City PD $17,000

Galax City PD $285,000

Giles County SO $17,000

Grayson County SO $17,000

Henrico County PD $40,000

Isle of Wight County SO $17,000

Loudoun County SO $17,000

Lynchburg City PD $285,000

New Kent County SO $17,000

Newport News City PD $285,000

Norfolk City PD $285,000

Prince George County PD $17,000

Prince William County PD $40,000

Roanoke City PD $285,000

Roanoke County PD $57,000

Rockingham County SO $302,000

Salem City PD $17,000

Scott County SO $17,000

Stafford County SO $302,000

Virginia Beach City PD $74,000

Staunton City PD $17,000

Suffolk City PD $17,000

Warren County SO $302,000

Washington County SO $17,000

Waynesboro City PD $17,000

Williamsburg City PD $17,000

Winchester City PD $17,000

Wise County SO $17,000

Wythe County SO $17,000

via  Winchester Daily-Monitor.