Ground Search and Rescue Vehicle/Specialty Vehicle Navigation/Radar/Call Out Clothing

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is a full service local law enforcement agency providing service to approximately 142,000 residents and thousands of annual visitors to Stafford County, Virginia. The Department provides service through 262 dedicated employees, including 184 sworn deputy sheriffs. The Department conducts multiple activities to prevent crimes, engages in community policing efforts and activities, and strives for close, positive relationships with community members and organizations. The Department answers over 70,000 calls for service from the community annually.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responds to calls to search for lost persons and to search for fleeing criminals in areas of the jurisdiction not reachable by normal police car. These areas are usually too large for simple foot searches and the Ground Search and Rescue Team is in need of a proper vehicle to traverse large areas off road. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office houses a Bearcat Armored Personnel Vehicle for armed encounters, an Incident Command Bus for portable command facilities and a dual rear axle truck and trailer for Ground Searches. These three vehicles are often called to respond to partner agencies in neighboring jurisdictions in support of their operations. These three vehicles are in need of navigation that would take into account their size and road needs and allow them to respond to jurisdictions where that the operator is not familiar. Stafford Deputies deal with an increasing traffic problem along the Interstate 95 corridor and enforce all traffic laws including speeding violations. The agency currently needs radar equipment to outfit newly hired Deputies with speed counting equipment. Stafford Sheriff’s Office requires certain administrative staff to respond to specialty events and emergency calls when off duty. Those who are normally uniformed when on duty are not provided with adequate clothing for these off duty responses and are in need of suitable response clothing.

The grant funds will provide a side by side off road all-terrain vehicle to be used in searches of lost persons as well as fleeing criminals. Virginia does not require ATVs to be registered and this vehicle will not be registered for road use. The vehicle will be available to be trailered to partner agencies in a regional response for search needs. The grant funds will provide three navigation units especially suited to the larger response vehicles that may travel out of jurisdiction. These navigation units will take into account the vehicles special size requirements when plotting the course of travel. The grant funds will provide three additional radar units to outfit three traffic patrol cars and monitor speeds on Stafford roads. The grant funds will provide specialty clothing to those on call for emergency call outs and for specialty events.

The items requested will be used as listed below with the project identifiers listed.
The All-terrain vehicle will be deployed into the following project identifiers:
1. Crime prevention: The vehicle will be deployed in areas that cannot be accessed by regular patrol. We are focusing on search and rescue operations, trespassers, vandals and other crimes against persons and property in undeveloped areas.
2. Community policing: We have several large community events, such as dare day and the 4th of July festivals which require a vehicle which can easily pass through parks and crowded areas where enforcement and quick responses are necessary. All-terrain vehicles have proven effective for us in these areas.

The Radar units will be deployed in the following Project identifiers:
1. Traffic enforcement: These devices will be issued to patrol deputies for the sole purpose of making our roads safer through speed enforcement. We have had an increase in traffic fatalities due to the increase in population which requires additional equipment. Our staffing has increased over the last few years causing an unanticipated shortage in radar units.

The GPS units will be applied to the following Project identifiers:
1. Equipment general: Our large vehicles are often called to respond to partner agencies in neighboring jurisdictions in support of their operations. These three vehicles are in need of navigation that would take into account their size and road restrictions and allow them to respond to jurisdictions where the operator is not familiar.

The Call out clothing will be applied to the following Project identifiers:
1. Equipment general: The clothing request is a modified civilian appearance with law enforcement designation. Stafford Sheriff’s Office requires certain administrative staff to respond to specialty events and emergency calls when off duty. Those who are normally uniformed when on duty are not provided with adequate clothing for these off duty responses and are in need of suitable response clothing. The clothing is as follows:
a. 5-11 style khaki pants with multiple pockets
b. Black polo style shirt with Sheriff’s office insignia embroidered on the chest. This will be a short sleeve shirt.
c. Light weight jackets with concealed logo’s and Sheriff’s insignia.
2. Training: This uniform will also serve as the official training uniform for command staff members it is issued to.