Ridgeland Police Department to receive $34K in COVID money

The Ridgeland Police Department has more than $30,000 in COVID-related supplemental funding from the Department of Justice incoming.

Police Chief John R. Neal said that his department is expecting $34,372 from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program awarded by the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice. A memo issued to city officials by Neal said that “these funds will be utilized to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus.”

The funds were accepted at the first city meeting earlier this month. Neal said that he did not know when they would receive the funds.

“We are waiting on the federal government,” Neal said.

The money will be used to purchase disinfectant and sanitation equipment for the department’s fleet of vehicles as well as a “go bag” given to each officer that will include a clean uniform in case they come into contact with someone they believe to be positive for COVID-19. The uniforms will be made available to investigators, patrol officers and detention personal as well as anyone else who regularly interacts with the public. Any leftover funds will likely be used to buy additional gloves, masks and goggles for department personnel to use, Neal said.

In other police news:

• The city board accepted two money orders totaling $700 for investigative fees. Neal noted that a defendant was ordered to pay the money by a judge.

• Approved a non-compensated investigator contract with the Mississippi Bureaus of Narcotics for the services of Detective Hunter Bridges through June 30, 2021.