A significant amount of money will be awarded to the Portsmouth Police Department and the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force if the Portsmouth City Council approves the proposals before them. The funding would allow the department to purchase new equipment, provide bonuses to police employees, and aid in the fight against drug trafficking in the city.
Here is a breakdown of the money and how it will be used. We are providing the exact language that the Council will consider.
$6,900.00
The City of Portsmouth has been awarded a state grant in the amount of $6,900.00 for operating years 2022-2023 under the Recovery Ohio Law Enforcement Fund to provide confidential funds to the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force. The City of Portsmouth is not required to match funds. The grant provides funding on a reimbursement basis.
$11,859.80
The City of Portsmouth has been awarded a federal pass through grant in the amount of $8,894.85 for operating year 2023 under the Justice Assistance Grant to purchase portable radios. The City of Portsmouth is required to match funds by providing an additional $2,964.95. The total amount to be expended on this grant is $11,859.80.
$20,420.00
The City of Portsmouth has been awarded a federal pass through grant in the amount of $15,315.00 for operating year 2023 under the Justice Assistance Grant to purchase in-car camera equipment. The City of Portsmouth is required to match funds by providing an additional $5,105.00. The total amount to be expended on this grant is $20,420.00.
$18,613.44
The City of Portsmouth has been awarded a federal pass through grant in the amount of $13,960.08 for operating year 2023 under the Justice Assistance Grant to provide confidential funds to the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force. The City of Portsmouth is required to match funds by providing an additional $4,653.36. The total amount to be expended on this grant is $18,613.44. The funding assistance is specifically for use by the Police Department.
$285,424.44
The City of Portsmouth has been awarded a federal pass through grant in the amount of $285,424.44 for operating years 2022-2024 under the ARPA Retention grant to provide bonuses to employees of the Portsmouth Police Department in an effort to increase employee retention. The funding assistance is specifically for retention bonuses for the Police Department. No matching funds are required. The grant provides the funding on a reimbursement basis.
Total $343,217.68
The Portsmouth City Council will be asked to pass these as an emergency so they will bypass the 3-Read-Rule and immediately qualify for disbursements. It is suspected that these will pass unanimously.
Laura Davis is the grant writer for the Police Department and was responsible for helping secure these funds.
SCDN will actively monitor Portsmouth Police Department’s employee retention bonus money. This is where money has disappeared or has been allegedly misused elsewhere. Although we have no reason to suspect mismanagement of these funds, we will be in close contact with the Auditor and will file all necessary paperwork to ensure transparency to the press and, therefore, to the public.