Steelville police officers have new gear to improve their service to the community, thanks to funding from several sources. City funds purchased new uniforms and new flooring for the department, and grant funds from other organizations have provided needed upgrades in equipment.
Over the past few months, research into available grants has uncovered some that will provide great benefits to the department. Recently promoted to sergeant, Adam Reed has been the driving force behind locating and pursuing the grants to improve the local police force. “There’s a lot available out there and we’re trying to pursue them,” new Police Chief Lydle Davis said.
MoDOT’s Highway Safety Division offers grants that pay overtime benefits for police officers to work to improve traffic safety. “The idea is to increase contact with the driving public,” Reed said. “Just let them know we’re out there.” Davis added, “It’s part of keeping highways safer.”
The grants are available for short-term, specific objectives. The first the SPD took advantage of was in September and targeted appropriate use of child safety seats. MoDOT paid approximately $500 for officers to work 19 overtime hours during the week of Sept. 12-19. During that time, Reed reported there were 35 traffic stops, none of which had any safety seat violations. However, those stops did lead to one drug arrest and the detection of four uninsured motorists.
The next MoDOT grant to be utilized will target holiday DWIs and Reed said the department has been approved for at least four more for next year. A total of $2,900 for six overtime grants will be utilized to benefit the city.
Another grant was awarded to the SPD from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (a board that oversees MoDOT). The department received a $2,319.97 Arrive Alive grant for a hand-held radar unit, a portable breath tester, and a field drug test kit. “We created a wish list and they gave it to us,” Davis reported.
Approximately $9,500 worth of equipment was awarded to Steelville’s police by the Missouri Department of Public Safety through funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Steelville’s award was part of more than $1 million given to law enforcement agencies across Missouri to obtain essential law enforcement equipment to increase officer and public safety. 
In total, $1,065,285 in federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG/JAG) was awarded to 131 law enforcement agencies, including city police, county sheriffs, public university police departments and state law enforcement agencies. Grant awards were limited to $9,999.99 with no requirement for a local match.
As a result of this grant, Steelville has or will shortly receive a total of six LED light bars or interior lights for police cars, five light control and siren boxes, six flashlights, four ballistic vests, six sets of protective clothing, and four trauma kits. All items are related to improving officer safety.
Through the DOD (Department of Defense) Excess Property Program, the SPD has received about $14,000 worth of equipment, including six complete computer systems, three vehicle protection guards, four ballistic vests and two vehicle trunk boxes. These are items no longer used by the military or their contractors or excess equipment from various law enforcement agencies that are made available for use by other law enforcement agencies. While most of the equipment is simply given away, the computers are considered a loan—if the local department no longer wants them, they must be returned to the DOD. While the hard drives have been cleared or removed, the department still wants to keep track of computers previously in use by the military.
“These are pieces of equipment we’ve needed, but couldn’t afford,” Davis said of the items acquired through the various grants. “We are bringing needed upgrades to Steelville without having to use city funds.”