The Mathews County Sheriff’s Office had been awarded a $181,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services under the Operation Ceasefire Grant Program, Sheriff April Edwards informed supervisors at the county’s June 20 meeting.
The funds will be used primarily to purchase a mobile command center at a cost of $120,000, said Edwards. The center will be generator-powered, have heating and air conditioning, and be usable by members of the sheriff’s office, fire department, and rescue squad, she said.
Other purchases that will be made with the funding will be a tactical drone, a crime scene light, and ballistic blankets.
“It will give us a lot of equipment we’ve never had,” said Edwards. “We may never need it, but at least we’ll have it.”
Edwards also reported on a tabletop active shooter exercise that law enforcement, other first responders, various agency representatives, and the schools participated in on June 17. She said it gave her insight into aspects of fire and...