USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today announced funding for the purchase of new police equipment in the city of Dawson, Minn.
“Providing critical infrastructure for public safety facilities is vital for community,” said Landkamer. “USDA Rural Development invests in these types of projects to ensure the health and safety of our rural communities.”
The Dawson City Police Department consists of a Police Chief, two patrolmen, and several part-time officers who serve over 1,700 local community members throughout Dawson and Boyd 24 hours per day.
The city of Dawson currently has one squad car camera, which works less than half the time. Squad car cameras are an essential tool for the safety of police officers and the residents they serve. With two squad cars rotated among the Department and only one partially-working squad car camera, there is increased unnecessary risk to their daily public service.
Today’s funding will go towards the purchase of two new In-car Camera Systems, including high-definition cameras, GPS, infrared color cabin camera, DVR, and automotive grade hard drives.
USDA funding comes in the form of a $5,000 grant through Rural Development’s Community Facilities program. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested over $431 million in loans and grants to build or improve over 350 essential community facilities throughout rural Minnesota.
Rural Development can finance a variety of emergency response needs in rural communities of 20,000 people or fewer through the Community Facilities program. In addition to fire trucks, eligible projects include fire halls, equipment, ambulances, police cars, radios, computers, defibrillators and weather sirens.
Rural Development also invests in housing, water and wastewater treatment, businesses, renewable energy and high-speed Internet. To learn more about Rural Development programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn, or call the area office in Willmar, Minn. at (320) 235-3540, ext. 4.