On April 19, 2020, the Police Department was awarded a federal Department of Justice Grant in the amount of $109,917.00 for the purchase of COVID-19 Mitigation Equipment. The grant was requested with the intent of purchasing 140 COVID-19 First Responder Kits/Masks designed to protect the eyes, nose, and mouth of police officers.    

As first responders, police officers have progressively responded to an enormity of calls for service during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Accordingly, once attained, the proposed masks would serve to offer critical and necessary protection and safety. Also, in comparison to other first responder masks, this particular equipment is designed to protect the wearer at an extraordinary level.  More specifically, this mask has been categorized as preventing exposure to at least 99% of all viruses.  Thereby, given these circumstances coupled with the nationwide demand for COVID-19 First Responder Kits/Masks, the ability to attain such apparatus has become challenging.