RISON - The Cleveland County Quorum Court unanimously approved the creation of a new fund to accept $250,000 from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency for equipment that will be used by the Cleveland County Sheriff.
Lt. Brad Young, the incoming sheriff for the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department, explained to the quorum court that this will be ongoing annual funding from the federal government to buy equipment that can be used for immigration, customs and law enforcement. He noted that the money cannot be used for pay.
Young said the program provides $7,500 per year for every law enforcement officer who has at least two years of certified experience and has gone through the ICE training program. He said five officers with the sheriff’s department meets those requirements.
“We’re not going to be ICE agents, but when we do come across (illegal aliens) who have committed a felony, we’re going to address it,” Young told the quorum court.
Young explained that the county will receive $250,000 the first year and $150,000 every year after that as the long as the federal government funds the program. He said the first year includes what is essentially a $100,000 stipend to help local law enforcement get more equipment on the front end.
In an interview after the meeting, Young said he plans to use the money to buy body cameras for deputies, new computers, vehicles and a canine. He noted that four sheriff vehicles currently need to be replaced as well.
“This is huge for the sheriff’s department,” Young said.
Young said the sheriff’s department is ready to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) but needed to have a county fund set up to accept the money first. A motion to establish the fund was approved by an 8-0 vote. Justice Jeffrey Smith was not at the meeting.
In a related matter, Young also asked the quorum court for permission to take some unused salary money and hire an extra deputy through the end of the year.
As of last Monday, Young said the sheriff…