Sheriff Brown is committed to keeping up with the increasing population of Bedford County, as well as, preparing for the decline in County budgets due to the economic downturn throughout the country.

Most of the local, state, and federal grants that BCSO has been awarded in the past are still in existence and BCSO continues to seek out grants in which this agency qualifies.

For the 2009 and 2010 fiscal year, the following grants are in place:

DMV – The Department of Motor Vehicles grants BCSO overtime money to fund additional Deputies out on the roads enforcing speed limits, seatbelt usage and DUI suppression.  Bedford County has a history of high fatality rates on the road, especially among our younger drivers. This additional enforcement is essential for everyone’s protection and this funding is provided for use without any strain on the county budget.  

Bullet Proof Vests – Officer safety continues to be high priority at BCSO and the Bureau of Justice Assistance continues to fund, up to 50%,  the issuing of a new vest to freshmen deputies and the replacement of vests for those vests reaching the five year mark, which is when they will expire.  

JAG – The state and local JAG grant has again been awarded to BCSO. This grant is 100% funding and has no cost to the county or “match” from the budget. This grant allows us to update pertinent equipment necessary for day-to-day law enforcement practices. Updated Alco-sensors, for example,  provide more accurate readings for DUI suspects, laser radar units are the most accurate in the field, and newly developed safety devices for officer safety  are some of the items that qualify for funding under the JAG program.

There has been much talk about the President’s “Recovery Act” in which additional JAG funds were made available for law enforcement to apply. BCSO applied for this funding which required no commitment to this agency or the county for any matching funds. An application has been submitted for large ticket items such as updated Mobil Data Units, more efficient software, and technical investigative tools needed, which could have never been afforded without this aid.

A grant received from the VA Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services enabled BCSO to purchase new AEDs, Automatic External Defibrillators. These are carried by every deputy while on duty. More often than not, a deputy is first to arrive to a scene. AEDs are invaluable tools to have that can save lives and stabilize a patient until paramedics arrive. This grant covered 50% of the actual cost of the defibrillators. These replaced the old units that date back to 1998.

BCSO has also applied for a COPS technology Grant.  This grant is offered for enhancing Community Oriented Policing throughout our county. This funding, awarded, will be utilized to upgrade and add Mobile Data Terminals to vehicles, bringing our fleet up to 100% equipped.

Also if funding is awarded, in-car video cameras will be replaced with state-of-the- art digital in-car cameras.

BCSO has also submitted a funding request through the Alzheimer’s’ Foundation of America.  Funding is requested on behalf of the BCSO TRIAD volunteer organization that has been trained in “Project Lifesaver”.  This is a services offered by the Sheriff’s Office, to be utilized by family members and care givers of loved ones who tend to wander, such as those suffering from Alzheimer’s.  Participants are fitted with a wrist bracelet that sends out a signal should the participant be missing. TRAID members are trained to use the tracking receiver to quickly locate the missing person.  This funding will enable BCSO to purchase the needed supplies such as the wrist bands, batteries, battery testers and a new receiver. BCSO currently has seven participants in this program. However, if funding is secured, the plan is to expand participants to thirteen.

Submitted by, Robin Sundquist- Grant Writer for BCSO