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Falling hand-in-hand with Gov. Bill Lee’s drive to curb crime in Tennessee, six law enforcement branches in Franklin County are sharing in a $552,959 formula grant provided through the state’s Violent Crime Intervention Fund that will be used to purchase much-needed equipment.

The Franklin County law enforcement agencies are also waiting on word about whether they will be sharing in a $2 million collaborative grant that would be provided through the fund, administered by the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration.

The collaborative grant, if received, would fund standardized training for the law enforcement agencies, provide TASERs and body cameras through a lease program, pay to install license-plate readers at 19 locations and supply portable and mobile radios, communications systems, ballistic vests, gas masks and gas guns.

Franklin County Grant Manager Pam Kreidenweis said that some of the items for each law enforcement formula grant could change because the additional funding from the collaborative grant would provide duplications of items requested, and the distribution would be adjusted accordingly.

Lee and the General Assembly appropriated $100 million in the state’s 2022-23 budget for the Violent Crime Intervention Fund, which provides grant funds for local law enforcement agencies to implement evidence-based programs, technology and strategies that will reduce violent crime in communities.

Based on the guidance received from local stakeholders across the state, the VCIF grants will support:

— Implementing programming based on proven effective violent-crime-intervention models.

— Hiring and training of specialized violent-crime investigative units.

— Purchasing and applying new technology and equipment.

— Law-enforcement-led partnerships with community organizations of their choice to directly disrupt or prevent violent crime.

Lee summed up in a press release what the VCIF program’s objectives are.

“As Americans face rising crime nationwide, Tennessee is equipping law enforcement with the tools needed to keep every community safe,” he said. “Unprecedented times call for unprecedented support.

“I invite all police departments and sheriff’s offices to engage this opportunity so the state can thoughtfully invest these dollars in proven methods that will curb violent crime and strengthen public safety. Every Tennessean deserves to feel safe in their community, and our local law enforcement agencies deserve access to the resources needed to deliver that quality of life.”

Of the $552,959 in formula grant money approved, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, which has 65 personnel, will be getting $141,809 that will be used to purchase mobile and portable radio equipment.

The Cowan Police Department, which has six officers, will be getting $67,164 that will be used to buy mobile and portable radio equipment, body cameras, ballistic vests, car printers, rifles, digital camera equipment, radar equipment, an office printer, a drone and an all-terrain vehicle.

The Decherd Police Department, which has 10 officers, will be getting $90,507 that will be used to purchases TASER stun guns, mobile and portable radio equipment, ballistic vests, a license scanner, car printers and computer equipment.

The Estill Springs Police Department, which has seven personnel, will be getting $76,826 to hire an additional officer and purchase a patrol vehicle.

The Huntland Police Department, which has five officers, will be getting $62,718 to buy a police vehicle, TASERs, firearms, a computer and printer, mobile and portable radios, radar equipment and in-car cameras.

The Winchester Police Department, which has 15 officers, will be getting $113,935 to buy body cameras, TASERs, mobile and portable radios and ballistic vests.

Sheriff Tim Fuller said the radio equipment is greatly needed, and some of the radios the Sheriff’s Office has are ancient at 25 years old and need to be replaced.

“It’s going to be very, very helpful,” he said, referring to the grant money.

Winchester Capt. Jeff Miller echoed Fuller’s assessment.

“Getting the equipment will make a tremendous difference to us,” he said, extending his thanks for the grant program.

Cowan Police Chief Allen Wilkinson agreed.

“It will make a huge difference,” he said.

Estill Springs Police Chief Matt Baker said one more officer and a patrol vehicle are greatly needed. He said Estill is at a location where those with criminal backgrounds and aspirations tend to pass through the community on Highway 41A.

He added that his department, as a consequence, has to deal with the situation.

“Crime has really gone up,” he said. “The grant money gives us the means to help reduce crime.”

Huntland Police Chief Charles Keller said Huntland is small community with a small tax base, and the equipment the grant money will provide probably wouldn’t be possible without a property tax increase because the city could not otherwise afford to spend the $62,000.

“This will definitely help our taxpayers,” he said.