Cookeville Police Department To Buy Equipment With Federal Grant

January 2, 2008, COOKEVILLE – The Cookeville Police Department will use a $3,717 U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to buy much needed equipment, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced.

“The Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program provides smaller communities and rural areas with technology, equipment and technical assistance to enhance their first responder capabilities,” Gordon said. “CEDAP is particularly helpful for local police departments, such as Cookeville, who have limited resources.”

CEDAP provides resources such as communications interoperability equipment, information sharing technology, chemical detection devices, sensors, personal protective equipment and rescue tools and training in how to use the equipment, devices and technology.

The Cookeville Police Department will purchase a night vision security kit, according to Capt. Nathan Honeycutt.

“Everyone has budget problems, and this grant has allowed us to get something we wouldn’t otherwise,” Honeycutt said. “The primary purpose for the night vision security kit is to supplement some of the equipment used by our special operations group. All of us are involved in homeland security, which special operations leads.”

Honeycutt said the department will use the night vision kit for more than anti-terrorism measures, including as an aid in fighting street-level drugs and searching for lost or missing persons at night.