MPD looks for grant opportunities to upgrade radios

     Monticello Police Chief Britt Smith released the Monticello Police Department report for the month of November.

     Total calls for service: 210

     Traffic stops: 18

     Citations: 7

     Parking citations: 0

     Arrests: 10 (OWIs, possession of drug paraphernalia, 3^rd degree burglary/possession of burglar’s tools, probation violation, domestic assault, operating motor vehicle without owner’s consent, driving while barred, simple assault, and possession of a controlled substance)

     Accidents investigated: 5

     EMS assists: 18

     Nuisance warnings: 4

     Use of force: 1

     Smith shared that Officers Peter Fleming and Jorden Koos responded to an address on E. Third Street for a report of a domestic assault in progress. As Officer Fleming arrived on scene, a male subject exited the residence and aggressively approached the officer. The subject refused to comply with verbal commands to stop and continued to come at Officer Fleming. Officer Fleming drew his weapon and again instructed the subject to stop and to drop to his knees. The subject then complied and was taken into custody without further incident by Officer Koos, who arrived on scene to assist. The subject was intoxicated and was arrested for domestic assault.

     In August, Smith applied for the Theisen’s Community Foundation Grant. The request of $3,444.60 was to assist in the purchase of new mobile and portable radios for the MPD. The department was only awarded $500. The total project cost is $13,060.58.

     “We are still a long way from our needed amount, but I will continue to seek out other grant opportunities to fund the remaining portion,” Smith stated. “We originally planned to purchase the new radios in July 2020 and be operational by early fall; however, this timeframe has been extended due to COVID.”

     Smith also applied for a grant through the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA). This grant opportunity was cancelled also due to COVID.

     “No funding was awarded any applicants,” explained Smith. “DRA recently announced that the grant period that was previously suspended due to COVID-19 has been reinstated and applicants who had previously submitted an application in the January 2020 grant period were eligible to reapply for this shortened grant period.”

     Smith, again, submitted his application for the Radio System Upgrades.