March 23, 2005

Purdue police, fire departments awarded state funds

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University police and fire departments will be able to purchase more than $150,000 in new emergency-response equipment later this year, thanks to a grant from the Indiana State Emergency Management Agency.

Police Capt. John Cox said the money will come from the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The competitive grants provide funds for municipal and state agencies to add or upgrade equipment. Purdue will receive $154,482 from the program.

"The grant program was weighted toward proposals that focused on programs and equipment used by multiple departments," Cox said. "Knowing that, I sat down with Kevin Ply, deputy fire chief, and we worked out a list of equipment that both departments could benefit from."

Ply said most of the money will go to buy new radio communication equipment, including 70 microphone upgrades that will allow firefighters and police officers to talk with each other while wearing breather units and gas masks. Grant money also will pay for a new hazardous material response trailer, radiation and gas detectors, and four protective emergency response suits.

Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371, jmwillis@purdue.edu

Sources: John Cox, (765) 494-8221, jkcox@purdue.edu

Kevin Ply (765) 494-6910, kmply@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:
Purdue University Police Department

Purdue University Fire Department

To the News Service home page