$50,000 State Grant to Buy Night-Vision Goggles for Tuscaloosa’s SWAT Team

The city has been awarded a nearly $50,000 state grant to purchase new equipment for the Tuscaloosa Police Department's SWAT team, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday.

The $49,884 grant, awarded through the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods program, will fund night-vision goggles for the department's Special Response Team, which responds to the department's highest-risk engagements, including standoffs with armed suspects, hostage rescues, bomb threats, and more.

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Night vision goggles can cost thousands of dollars per unit, but will allow this team of highly trained police officers to operate more safely in low-light environments.

"This program provides our law enforcement officers with the tools they need to combat crime and make communities safe places," Ivey said. "Our law enforcement officers work tirelessly to increase safety in our communities, and I am pleased to award these funds to support these efforts in Tuscaloosa."

TPD spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor said the department is grateful for the ability to obtain equipment that helps officers make it home.

"We’re grateful to Gov. Ivey and ADECA for this funding. Night vision is an important piece of equipment for our SWAT team, especially when officers are responding to high-risk situations in low-light conditions," Taylor said. "It helps them see what they’re dealing with and operate more safely, which makes things safer for both our officers and the public."

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that unites local, state, and federal officials to develop strategies to combat crime, particularly violent offenses. In our state, the grants are administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs using funds from the U.S. Department of Justice.

"ADECA is pleased to join with Gov. Ivey in support of the city of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Police Department to better equip its officers to carry out high-risk missions," ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.

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