U.S. Senator Katie Britt Secures Funds for Jacksonville Rescue and Response Vehicle

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

This congressionally directed spending would enable the City of Jacksonville to procure a multipurpose response and rescue vehicle.

“When I joined the Senate Appropriations Committee, I promised to bring Alabamians’ hard-earned dollars home. Ensuring our brave law enforcement officers have the best tools to protect their communities and themselves is a top priority for me in that effort. This $200,000 would be an investment in the safety of our friends, families, neighbors, and communities,” said Senator Britt.

“With the assistance of Senator Britt in securing $200,000 in funding toward the acquisition of a Multipurpose Rescue and Response Vehicle, the Jacksonville Police Department’s Special Response Team will be better equipped to handle incidents throughout the City of Jacksonville, as well as the mutual aid agreements within Calhoun and Etowah Counties, offering enhanced protection for officers and civilians.  The Rescue Team’s jurisdiction is the City of Jacksonville with 10.92 square mile, and it includes a growing population of 14,400 residents and approximately 10,000 students attending school at Jacksonville State University,” said Mayor Johnny Smith.

“Through mutual aid agreements, the team is also responsible for responding to all critical incidents that occur within the towns of Weaver (3.8 square miles with 3,339 residents) and Piedmont (9.93 square miles with 4,787 residents).  When needed, we can also be called on to respond to emergencies and to support local tactical units anywhere throughout the entirety of Calhoun County (612 square miles with 116,441 residents) or with Etowah County.  We are grateful for the steadfast dedication and commitment of Senator Britt in helping us secure the funding to purchase this vehicle,” he continued.

The FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Overall, Senator Britt secured $7.16 million in Justice related congressionally directed spending in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, including:

• $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville Police Department for a multipurpose rescue and response vehicle
• $300,000 for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for a mobile command center for critical incident and disaster response
• $250,000 for the City of Decatur for general law enforcement and public safety equipment and enhancements
• $400,000 for the City of Fairhope for general upgraded law enforcement and public safety equipment and technology
• $350,000 for the City of Phenix City for public safety emergency communications equipment, including radios and upgrades to critical infrastructure
• $100,000 for the City of Roanoke for public safety emergency communications infrastructure
• $250,000 for the DeKalb County Commission for new communications equipment to modernize law enforcement vehicles
• $350,000 for the Hoover Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment upgrades, including body-worn cameras
• $400,000 for the Pell City Police Department for equipment and technology to enhance community public safety and support law enforcement criminal investigations
• $20,000 for the Slocomb Police Department for law enforcement and public safety equipment
• $250,000 for the St. Clair County Commissions for a crisis intervention and negotiations response vehicle
• $200,000 for Alabama A&M University to improve public safety on campus, including security upgrades to residence halls
• $750,000 for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a Rapid DNA Implementation Program in Alabama
• $396,000 for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for a patrol and rescue boat, and other water and public safety equipment
• $50,000 for the Bullock County Sheriff’s Department for new law enforcement vehicles
• $1.257 million for the City of Dothan for public safety and law enforcement technology, including the installation of the ShotSpotter Gunfire Location, Alert and Analysis Service to assist law enforcement in rapidly responding to violent crime in the city
• $200,000 for the City of Luverne Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment, including all-terrain vehicles with needed communications equipment
• $55,000 for the City of Montevallo for a new law enforcement patrol vehicle
• $300,000 for the Etowah County Commission for law enforcement public safety equipment, including a patrol/dive vessel for the Marine / Dive unit to patrol the 437 miles of shoreline throughout the county
• $435,000 for Cleburne County’s Sheriff’s Office for modern patrol vehicles
• $650,000 for Lawrence County Commission for public safety emergency communications equipment, including new radios

BACKGROUND:

Senator Britt is an advocate for ensuring the unique needs of Alabama’s communities—rural and urban—are met. This includes supporting our tremendous law enforcement officers.

Senator Britt is a staunch champion of Alabama’s law enforcement community. She is a cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act, which would strengthen existing laws that protect police officers, increase the criminal penalties for individuals who target law enforcement, and expand the tools that police can use to protect themselves. Senator Britt is also a cosponsor of the Thin Blue Line Act, which would expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in capital punishment determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

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