SALYERSVILLE – The Magoffin County Sheriff Department has been awarded a grant totaling over $100,000, that will better equip the department long after Sheriff Bill Meade hangs up the badge.
With the total of $100,250 in grant funding, Sheriff Meade was able to buy 15 AR-15 rifles, scopes, sights, Glock pistols, vests and large inserts to go in the vests that would stop a round from a rifle.
“One of my priorities whenever I took office was to make a professional office here,” Sheriff Meade said. “To increase the equipment for the office and we’ve been able to obtain part of that. Through a series of grants, we were able to secure the purchase of ballistic vests. We’ve also got additional vests with the large caliber strike plates and stuff for our vests. We were able to obtain AR-15s and new Glock .40 caliber pistols. These are weapons that belong to the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office. As far as I know, this is the first time the office ever had office-owned weapons and it’s a very important thing. Before, our officers had to carry their own personal weapon. If we are, God forbid, involved in a shooting, then you would lose your personal weapon for a year – two years – maybe five – who knows? On top of that, by having an office-issued firearm, we can make sure everyone has the same caliber weapon, that way if you’re in a situation where you’re running low on ammunition, another officer can toss you a magazine.”
The grants also allowed them to purchase a large amount of ammunition, as well. The gear and ammunition are for not only the deputies, but also the court security officers at the justice center.
“It’s been a long process,” Sheriff Meade told Mortimer Media Group. “It’s taken a couple years to get here and I certainly want to throw out a ‘thanks’ to our judge/executive, our fiscal court and John Blanton, who have been very helpful in this process. We’re in the process of trying to get some more equipment, and whenever my time is over here at the office, one of my major priorities is to make sure whoever takes over behind me has the equipment that they need to operate a professional sheriff’s office.”
Sheriff Meade also said they are working on more grants for laptop computers and everything required to make them mobile for their cruisers.
