More than $1 million in federal funding secured for the Southold Town Police Department will pay for 10 new frontline patrol vehicles and 20 dual-band emergency radios, replacing aging equipment that police officials say is essential to maintaining reliable public safety operations.
Congressman Nick LaLota joined Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski, Police Chief Steve Grattan and members of the Town Board Thursday afternoon outside police headquarters to formally announce the grant, saying the funding will improve officer safety while easing pressure on the town budget.
“This money is going to help our police department acquire 10 new police vehicles and 20 new radios, which will help them do their tough and dangerous job a little bit better,” LaLota said. “Our cops work hard. They keep us safe. They deserve having good equipment to help them do that.”
LaLota also emphasized that the grant provides financial relief to local taxpayers by allowing the town to devote local dollars to other priorities.
“There are a lot of priorities these hardworking town officials have to balance,” he said. “This million dollars helps the town board maintain high-quality services while keeping taxes down.”
The announcement builds on funding first revealed in January, when LaLota’s office announced that Southold had been awarded more than $1 million through the Community Project Funding program. At the time, town officials said the money would be used to purchase new patrol vehicles and communications equipment to modernize the department’s aging fleet and radio system.
Thursday’s event provided new details on exactly how that money will be spent and why police leaders consider the purchases critical.
Grattan said the department’s patrol fleet is in constant use and replacing worn vehicles has become increasingly important.
“This money is going to go toward the purchase of frontline patrol vehicles to replace some of our aging vehicles,” the police chief said. “We provide 24/7 public safety services out of these vehicles, so it’s crucial to our operations to ensure that we have reliable equipment.”
The grant will also fund the purchase of 20 dual-band radios capable of operating on both VHF and 800-megahertz frequencies.
Grattan said the upgraded radios will significantly improve interoperability during emergencies.
“This is going to improve our interoperability with our neighboring jurisdictions and enhance our ability to communicate with the county, the state and other local programs,” he said. “This is a great investment.”
In January, officials noted that replacing the department’s communications equipment would strengthen emergency coordination throughout Suffolk County. Thursday’s announcement expanded on that point, with Grattan explaining that the new radios will allow officers to communicate more effectively across multiple agencies during large-scale incidents.
Krupski hailed “the incredible work the entire department does every day.” He said that, “as police commissioners, we take our role seriously. Public safety is not to be taken for granted. It’s our responsibility to ensure proper funding for staffing, equipment and training.”
He praised Grattan and the department’s officers while thanking LaLota for securing the funding.
“This is a good example of different levels of government working together to help our community,” Krupski said.
LaLota said the Southold award is one of dozens of community project grants he has pursued as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, focusing primarily on public safety, infrastructure and water quality projects.
He said he secured approximately $27.1 million in community project funding across New York’s 1st Congressional District during the current fiscal year and told reporters his district ranked first nationally among New York’s congressional districts in the latest round of appropriations.
Following the police announcement, LaLota also provided an update on another long-awaited Southold priority, saying the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains on schedule to dredge Mattituck Inlet this fall. He said discussions are continuing over where dredged sediment will ultimately be placed, with Bailie Beach remaining a preferred location for beach nourishment.