TASER Grant News

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TASER Grant News

New Economy = New Grant Strategies Needed

 

As we move forward with this “new” economy most of us have already realized that our budgets are no longer holding to the “status quo”. Money that was routinely part of your operations budgets are no longer safe from the swing of the budget axe as we are being asked to do more, with less. One of the first places for that to occur is in acquiring new or upgrading of older equipment. This economic “reality check” is hitting home for many of us as we realize that this is not a short term problem but is going to be a long haul back to prosperity.

 

More and more departments are turning to the grant programs in an attempt to make up for these shortfalls in budgetary resources and with the increased number of applications the competition for those shrinking dollars grows exponentially as well. Let us not forget that the Federal budget axe is also swinging at our traditional funding sources and although the grant programs are still healthy, they are dwindling as our country seeks to survive and emerge intact from this economic crisis.

 

Traditionally we have sought and been awarded funding to gain TASERs into our departments through use of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and this program still remains as viable sources. When requesting information from your State Administering Agencies they request your agency name, for this reason it is best if someone from your agency makes the call.

 

Several examples of using this method are related here:

 

http://www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/police/JAG_grant_app_pd_07.02.09.pdf

 

http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/police-sheriffs-departments-receive-grant

 

http://justice.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/20F119C8-1D5C-4AC1-9F80-63A7D8FD5D0F/0/JAGFY0708ANNUALREP.doc

 

There are other grant and funding programs available which you previously may have never considered using.

 

Changing times though, demand changing tactics. The #1 rule of grant seeking is to recognize and form the nexus between the funding source’s need and your own. If we use a little more “out of the box thinking”, it is possible to form that nexus in some rather unique ways in searching for funding to obtain TASERs.

 

Ask yourself some basic questions. Why do you want TASERs? Do they cut down on the potential liability to your department from “excessive use of force” lawsuits? Sure they do and who is in charge of mitigating that liability risk for your department? It is your risk management insurer. Would it be in their interests, financially, to cut back on the possibility of a lawsuit over a wrongful death? Many risk management insurers also have grant programs that have funded TASER purchases for that very reason. One major risk management agency thought so much about this tactic that they commissioned a study and produced a document advocating the use of TASERs for that very purpose:

http://www.theppsc.org/Research/V3.MMRMA_Deadly_Force_Project.pdf  

As an example, here is an article from a department in the State of Michigan that was funded for TASERs by their risk management agency (http://ingham.org/BC/BC/INDEX/2003/03-261.htm ).

 

Community Affairs and Economic development funding is often overlooked as a viable source of funding projects for police departments also. Anything that will benefit a community, including equipment to equip the police department, can many times be eligible for this funding as evidenced here in an article concerning a Tennessee Sheriff’s Dept who used this funding source to obtain their TASERs: (http://legacy.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050112/tasers.shtml )

 

A very common use of TASERs is for dealing with the mentally ill who we often find trying to commit “suicide by cop” or who are having a violent episode because they have come off medications. TASERs are a less than lethal option in these circumstances and approaching a local mental health advocacy group for possible funding is not entirely out of the question. Many of the members of these have a loved one who falls into that category and is dealing with some sort of mental instability. By explaining the limited options available to your law enforcement officers when dealing with individuals suffering a violent episode or attempting to injure others or themselves and the “less than lethal” outcome that a TASER offers your officers, may very well just open the door to a possible funding source. It becomes necessary to connect the dots for them, as they often times cannot “see the forest for the trees”.

 

Do you work in an area that has a gaming casino? I can assure you that the casino’s last desire is to have a violent, drunken patron of a casino be shot and killed in the midst of their other guests on a casino floor. Don’t be afraid to approach their risk management people in trying to secure funding for these purchases. Paint the picture for them of all their patrons rushing for the door to escape and the dollar loss to them of a 24-48 hour homicide investigation having to be conducted and disrupting their gaming and the subsequent profits lost vs. a 20 minute incident in which the offender is simply removed from the floor and normal activity resumes; this is a powerful tool. If the casino happens to be an Indian Casino you might also consider using a Tribal Law Enforcement Grant program that will also fund TASER purchases. Many of these type of casino operations have annual grant programs which you can partake of and which would cover the cost of the purchase of TASERs.

 

Are you aware that in some states (NY and PA come to mind) state legislative representatives are given money from state coffers to fund various projects within their districts called “member items”. Fire departments have been utilizing this funding option for years. If you are in a state, such as these, you would need to approach the legislator and request consideration for your project. We have seen projects of up to $25K funded through these “member item” type funds.

 

Many states also have Crime Commissions or special Governor’s Crime Commissions set up which collect funds from traffic citations and court imposed sanctions and are set aside to fund projects for local law enforcement. In addition, state asset forfeiture funding may also be a possible source to turn to when the local coffers are running dry for these type purchases.

 

The NRA Foundation has special provisions within their charitable grant giving for law enforcement agencies which are governed and given on a state by state basis. Now this money is given away yearly to foster better public relations and to encourage responsible gun ownership and safety but, it is not a far reach to say that responsible gun ownership or good public relations also means, not having to resort to the lethal option as often. Although untried at this point, if presented in the right context, it may be possible to foster this approach to an organization such as this. https://www.nrafoundation.org/grants/statefund.asp

 

These trying economic times demand innovative thinking when approaching grant programs and funding sources. A good grant writer should never simply accept the status quo and be fearful of promoting or trying to push through a new idea or a new thought process. A good grant writer averages winning only 1 in every 6 grants submitted within the current arena of competition. We should not be afraid of being told “no” by a funding source; it just means you are one step closer to being told “yes”.