Brookline Police Granted Funding for Urban Area Security Initiatives

On Tuesday evening, Brookline Police Chief Dan O’Leary told the Board of Selectmen that the Police Department had been awarded a $150,000 grant for Urban Area Security Initiatives.

In an email to the Board, Chief O’Leary said that the grant would enhance Brookline Police Department’s ability to respond to acts of terrorism and other active shooter situations.

“We want to put this money towards outer ballistics shields that officers can use in an active shooter situation or something like that,” Chief O’Leary told the Board. “This year, we put in a proposal for training, protective equipment and night vision equipment for search situations and things like that, which will enhance our abilities in an active shooter situation or a search situation.”

The Department also has to scrap their 15-year-old radio system, which will no longer be supported by Motorola. This outdated system will be upgraded for both the Police and the Fire Departments in town. This new system will cost roughly $350,000.

The Police Department also received an additional grant of $17,154 to support “critical infrastructure improvements” to the Public Safety Building. Chief O’Leary said that this money would be used to upgrade security around the cell block area, exterior perimeter and other areas in need of repairs. At this point, the Department has spent $67,348.70 on upgrades and repairs, putting the current total at $84,502.70.

The Board of Selectmen approved each these grants.