The Santa Maria Police Department just got a much-needed upgrade. Two grants, worth almost $50,000 combined, were awarded to the department for lab, forensic, and cadet training equipment.
On Feb. 1, the Santa Maria Police Council presented both grants to Police Chief Danny Macagni at an award ceremony at the department’s training center on McClelland Street in Santa Maria.
The Santa Maria Police Council is a nonprofit organization that formed in 2007 to locate grants and other funding sources for safety materials and other police equipment often beyond what tight budgets can allow for.
According to Council President Jim Diani, the department received $44,927 from one donor—who requested to remain anonymous—to be used to improve the department’s forensic laboratory.
Tim Sutcliffe, the lab supervisor for the Santa Maria Police Department, told the Sun the funds will go toward “a whole host of goodies” for both the crime lab and for specialists to take out to the field. He said some of the lab’s current equipment has worn out, been phased out technologically, or isn’t practical for use at crime scenes. He said the funding is greatly appreciated.
“It’s definitely helpful,” Sutcliffe said. “The state of the lab right now isn’t dire—you can always do without—but then, of course, you’re not working at your full capability.”
Sutcliffe said the department has begun a process of making bids on certain items from different vendors to make sure it gets the best bang for its buck.
Items the department expects to purchase with the money include a new evidence drier; a Nikon d7000; a couple of lenses; a video camera; a digital microscope capable of projecting images onto a video screen for observation and recording; military-grade, portable alternate lighting units; new composite sketch software; new fingerprint-lifting devices; and safety equipment for the lab, such as anti-flammable cabinet units for storage of hazardous materials.
The department also received a $5,000 grant from the Friends of the National Rifle Association, Inc., to go toward the purchase of Airsoft guns. These replica guns mimic the real thing, but fire pellets, and can be used to train Santa Maria Police Explorer Program cadets in proper weapon safety, nomenclature, and realistic weapon use in a safe environment.
The Explorer program trains young adults between the ages of 14 and 20 who are looking to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Including the most recent donations, the Santa Maria Police Council has secured more than $179,000 for the department. Past donations have been used to purchase Tasers for every officer, K-9 training, and SWAT team training equipment, all which come with a large price tag, Diani said.
Diani said the council is always looking for volunteers and grant writers. Anybody interested should contact Executive Director Janine Dunn at 268-1669 or via e-mail at jaine@santamariapolicecouncil.org.
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This article appears in Feb 10-17, 2011.