U.S. Senator Katie Britt Secures Funds to Upgrade Etowah County Public Safety Equipment

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $300,000 for the Etowah County Commission in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

This congressionally directed spending would enable Etowah County to upgrade its public safety equipment, including the procurement of a patrol and dive vessel for the Marine and Dive unit to cover the 437 miles of shoreline throughout the county.

“Ensuring our tremendous law enforcement officers have the best tools to protect their fellow Alabamians and themselves is a top priority for me,” said Senator Britt. “Waterways often create additional challenges for law enforcement to keep everyone safe. This $300,000 would upgrade public safety equipment with the purchase of a patrol and dive boat. This would help Etowah County better protect local families and communities year-round.”

“We are deeply grateful for the $300,000 grant from Senator Katie Britt, which will enable us to acquire a state-of-the-art marine vessel equipped with cutting-edge technology, including live-scan sonar, to enhance our Dive and Marine Teams’ capabilities,” said Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton.

“This new vessel will significantly improve our ability to serve Etowah County citizens and the broader region by ensuring safer and more efficient waterway recoveries. We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Britt for her instrumental role in securing these funds,” 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:

• $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
• $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
• $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville Police Department for a multipurpose rescue and response vehicle
• $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
• $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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