FCSO awarded nearly $700,000 in grant funds in 2019

Palm Coast Observer
News

Story courtesy of the FCSO's Brittany Kershaw

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was awarded nearly $700,000 in grant funds so far in 2019 in an effort to enhance public safety.

On Monday, Sept. 30, the FCSO received word that they were approved for a $150,000 grant that was applied for as a means to fund a dedicated sexual offender and predator detective and a part-time crime analyst.

The grant was solicited by the Department of Justice for the SMART FY 2019 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program. With the growing number of sexual offenders and predators residing within Flagler County, the FCSO Grants Unit applied for the grant, which is designed for counties that require assistance with compliance issues and data collection.

“These cases are time consuming, guided by very specific statutes, and require a strong understanding of what a sexual offender or predator is and how the age of the victim dictates what they are allowed to do or not do,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “My hope is that news of these new specialized positions will send a clear message to sexual offenders living in Flagler County that we are here to ensure they are in compliance.”

Since June, deputies have arrested four individuals for sexual offender violations.

Members of the FCSO Traffic Unit with the new flare equipment. This grant will provide the necessary equipment for the FCSO Traffic Unit to set up temporary traffic control patterns while working collision scenes, checkpoints, roadblocks, or other situations where
they need to re-direct and control traffic flow. The enhanced LED flares are intended to provide improved awareness to drivers so they don’t strike an emergency vehicle or a first responder.

This grant is primarily funded by a generous donation from Law Enforcement United. LEU is a national organization of active and retired law enforcement officers, along with surviving family members of lost officers.

Additionally, the FCSO was awarded a $16,108 grant from the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program. This grant will support the FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center, a centralized technology center giving patrol deputies and detectives instant information to help identify patterns and stop emerging crime. The grant covers the cost of the investigative software needed as well as equipment and training.

The FCSO is continually applying for additional grants to enhance public safety in Flagler County.