PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Police Department has won nearly $2,000 in grant funding to buy safety partitions for three of its patrol cars.
The Maine Municipal Association awarded the department $1,722 to buy three cages, which cost $574 each, to separate the front and back seats of the patrol cars, including two new vehicles recently purchased. The remaining $1,440 needed to pay for installation will come from city funds.
Police Chief Matt Irwin credits Officer Kyle White for seeking out grant opportunities that will invest in the safety of police officers who are on duty, particularly during arrests.
“Having the partitions inside our vehicles will allow officers to do their job without the fear of being attacked or injured,” Irwin said.
The Maine Municipal Association awards safety enhancement grants to Maine municipalities in May and October in an effort to reduce the risk and severity of workplace related injuries. Irwin noted that the police department continually searches for grant opportunities and other avenues that will help fund necessary purchases and save taxpayer dollars.
“When compared to the total city budget of $14 million, $1,722 doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the little pieces that add up over time and make a big difference in what we can spend,” Irwin said. “Grants like these help the city keep more money in its capital reserve fund, which in turn helps the taxpayers.”
