Jacksonville, AL — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has secured $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The funds will be allocated for the procurement of a multipurpose response and rescue vehicle, a significant enhancement for the Jacksonville Police Department’s Special Response Team.
Senator Britt, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, emphasized the importance of this funding. “When I joined the Senate Appropriations Committee, I promised to bring Alabamians’ hard-earned dollars home. Ensuring our brave law enforcement officers have the best tools to protect their communities and themselves is a top priority for me in that effort,” Britt said. “This $200,000 would be an investment in the safety of our friends, families, neighbors, and communities.”
Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith expressed his gratitude for the support. “With the assistance of Senator Britt in securing $200,000 in funding toward the acquisition of a Multipurpose Rescue and Response Vehicle, the Jacksonville Police Department’s Special Response Team will be better equipped to handle incidents throughout the City of Jacksonville,” Smith noted. He highlighted the vehicle’s role in enhancing the team’s response capabilities within the city and through mutual aid agreements in Calhoun and Etowah Counties.
City Councilman Andy Green also praised the initiative. “I am grateful for the continued support being given to the citizens from our legislature at all levels, especially that of Senator Katie Britt and assisting us with funding for the rescue and response vehicle,” Green said. “The personnel in public safety do a tremendous job of responding to emergencies, and this vehicle will aid them even more. Collaborative efforts like these ensure those in public safety can continue to serve Jacksonville citizens, those passing through, or people attending one of the many events happening in our community.”
City Councilwoman Sherry Laster echoed this sentiment, calling the funding a significant win for Jacksonville. “Securing funds for a rescue and response vehicle is a significant win for Jacksonville. This investment underscores the importance of safety and preparedness in our community. Senator Britt’s efforts reflect her commitment to ensuring that our first responders have the tools they need to protect and serve us effectively,” Laster said.
Jacksonville Police Chief Marcus Wood highlighted the practical benefits of the new vehicle. “We really appreciate Senator Britt and her office for considering our request and approving it,” Wood said. “With this multipurpose vehicle, which is a Bearcat, not only will it serve the citizens of Jacksonville and Jacksonville State University, but we’ll also be able to assist the northern end of the county and parts of Etowah County if needed. This support, combined with that of the mayor and our council, helps us acquire equipment and teams like our newly created SRT team. It will enable us to assist others when the need arises.”
The FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is awaiting consideration by the full Senate. Senator Britt’s commitment to law enforcement is also reflected in her broader funding efforts. She has secured a total of $7.16 million in Justice-related congressionally directed spending within the same appropriations act, including funds for various law enforcement agencies and public safety initiatives across Alabama.
In addition to her legislative work, Senator Britt is a cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act and the Thin Blue Line Act, both aimed at strengthening protections for law enforcement officers. Her efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting Alabama’s law enforcement community and ensuring local agencies are well-equipped to meet the needs of their communities.
The full funding is shown below:
Overall, Senator Britt secured $7.16 million in Justice related congressionally directed spending in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, including:
- $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville Police Department for a multipurpose rescue and response vehicle
- $300,000 for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for a mobile command center for critical incident and disaster response
- $250,000 for the City of Decatur for general law enforcement and public safety equipment and enhancements
- $400,000 for the City of Fairhope for general upgraded law enforcement and public safety equipment and technology
- $350,000 for the City of Phenix City for public safety emergency communications equipment, including radios and upgrades to critical infrastructure
- $100,000 for the City of Roanoke for public safety emergency communications infrastructure
- $250,000 for the DeKalb County Commission for new communications equipment to modernize law enforcement vehicles
- $350,000 for the Hoover Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment upgrades, including body-worn cameras
- $400,000 for the Pell City Police Department for equipment and technology to enhance community public safety and support law enforcement criminal investigations
- $20,000 for the Slocomb Police Department for law enforcement and public safety equipment
- $250,000 for the St. Clair County Commissions for a crisis intervention and negotiations response vehicle
- $200,000 for Alabama A&M University to improve public safety on campus, including security upgrades to residence halls
- $750,000 for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a Rapid DNA Implementation Program in Alabama
- $396,000 for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for a patrol and rescue boat, and other water and public safety equipment
- $50,000 for the Bullock County Sheriff’s Department for new law enforcement vehicles
- $1.257 million for the City of Dothan for public safety and law enforcement technology, including the installation of the ShotSpotter Gunfire Location, Alert and Analysis Service to assist law enforcement in rapidly responding to violent crime in the city
- $200,000 for the City of Luverne Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment, including all-terrain vehicles with needed communications equipment
- $55,000 for the City of Montevallo for a new law enforcement patrol vehicle
- $300,000 for the Etowah County Commission for law enforcement public safety equipment, including a patrol/dive vessel for the Marine / Dive unit to patrol the 437 miles of shoreline throughout the county
- $435,000 for Cleburne County’s Sheriff’s Office for modern patrol vehicles
- $650,000 for Lawrence County Commission for public safety emergency communications equipment, including new radios
