Senate may fund Flathead law agencies

By NICHOLAS LEDDEN

The Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County law enforcement agencies may see a sizable chunk of federal funding for equipment upgrades next year.

The U.S. Senate will consider a $54.6 billion spending bill later this year that earmarks $700,000 in funds for Flathead-area communities.

The bill emerged from subcommittee Thursday, but has yet to be considered by the full Senate.

As it reads now, the bill allocates:

. $250,000 for a new 911 dispatch system in Flathead County. The new system would improve communication and operational efficiency among the county's numerous law enforcement and public safety agencies. It would also give those agencies a link to the 911 center's location mapping and situational information technologies from their vehicles.

"It's a huge boost," said Flathead County Office of Emergency Services director Mark Peck. "It's a quantum leap forward from what we're dealing with right now."

The entire dispatch system could cost anywhere between $700,000 and $1 million, so the 911 board will still be actively pursuing other funding sources, Peck said.

"It still has to go through the legislative process," Peck said. "We're well aware of that fact. It's just one piece of the pie."

. $200,000 for the Whitefish Police Department to upgrade their radios, purchase new video surveillance equipment and invest in the latest crime scene investigation tools. Funds would also be used to improve the officer's work stations.

"If we get this, it's going to be a huge windfall for the citizens of Whitefish," said Whitefish Police Department Assistant Chief Mike Ferda. "With all the recent growth in the valley, we would be remiss if we weren't looking for the newest technology and equipment."

The Whitefish Police Department is also pursuing grant money for a new building, Ferda said.

"You want to have a building that's equipped well enough for the 21st century," he said. "It's an awful lot of money to outfit a new building."

. $250,000 for a new justice center in Eureka to facilitate inter-agency cooperation. Funds would be used for purchasing equipment and training.

"Unfortunately, small towns have problems just like the big city, but often times not the resources to deal with them," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in a statement Thursday. Added Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., "Bad guys belong behind bars, and law enforcement agencies deserve every resource available."

The bill will be subject to numerous changes before it passes the Senate. After that happens, it must be reconciled with a $53.6 billion U.S. House of Representatives version of the bill, which left a subcommittee earlier this month. Those differences will be hashed out in conference committee later this year.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill will allocate fiscal year 2008 funds to the Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation and nine other independent government agencies.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com