Grant funds awarded in New Madrid County, New Madrid city and Morehouse

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Thanks to funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, three New Madrid County agencies will receive much needed equipment to improve service to citizens.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety recently approved 428 grants totaling over $6.3 million to law enforcement, fire service and EMS providers across the state for new equipment, supplies, personnel and training. Among local recipients were the New Madrid Police Department, New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department and the Morehouse Fire Department.

The maximum grant amount to recipients was $20,000. All the grants required a local match of 50 percent.

The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $15,799 in grant funding and when matched with local funding will enabled the Department to purchase 16 body cameras and a computer system where the videos will be stored as evidence.

New Madrid County Sheriff William “Bud” Cooper noted that law enforcement agencies across the country are requiring officers to wear body cameras.

“Body camera footage provides help in prosecution of cases,” Cooper said. “And when people have complaints on officers we can review the tapes and determine if complaint is valid or not.”

According to Cooper the purchase package includes an upgrade of the cameras after three years.

“We appreciate the opportunity the grant will provide in better equipping our officers,” Cooper added.

According to New Madrid Police Chief Joey Higgerson, who serves as director of public safety for the city, New Madrid received two grants of approximately $12,000 each.

The New Madrid Fire Department was awarded funds to purchase a 20-foot boat with a 115 horsepower outboard from Excel Boats in Mountain View, Ark.

“Several times a year the fire department is called for a water rescue, stranded boater or some other emergency on the Mississippi River, and this boat will help us take care of these calls safely and efficiently,” Higgerson said.

The New Madrid Police Department was awarded funds to assist with the purchase a Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 UTV from I69 Motorsports in Union City, Tenn. The police department will utilize the UTV during parades, community events and searches and rescues in areas that are inaccessible by car.

“In more than one instance we have used a citizen’s UTV to evacuate someone who needs medical help from areas along the levee, and this UTV will ensure that we are prepared the next time this situation occurs,” Higgerson said. “Additionally, with the police and fire departments being housed in one building and under one administration, this equipment will be readily available to not only both agencies, but any city department.”

With the grant award covering just half of the funds, the city’s half of the money will come from the sale of old/surplus equipment that is no longer in service. The city earlier announced plans to sell an early 1990’s model fire truck and intends to sell a police car that is over 10 years old.

“All of this is done in an effort to not only save the city money, but to provide our citizens with the highest level of service,” Higgerson said.

Morehouse mayor Joe Brashears called the grant funding vital to his community as it strives to improve services to citizens.

With the maximum amount of funding for each grant at $20,000, the community received just shy of that amount with a grant of $19,940. The grant funds along with a $20,000 match by the city will enable the community to purchase turnout gear for the town’s firefighters.

The mayor pointed out the town continues to look for a variety of funding sources for projects.

“Trying to get every grant possible is the only way Morehouse can get back on the map again,” Brashears said. “It is the town board, the city clerk, the fire chief and everyone working together and with the help of the County Commission, the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission and others that we are able to chase these funds then dig deep to put money on table to match these grants.”

In announcing the awarding of the funds to Missouri’s first responders, Governor Mike Parsons described the equipment and training the grant would provide as essential.

“These grants mean law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel will be better equipped in performing their lifesaving work and protecting the public,” Parsons said.