TULSA, Okla. — Equipment that could save lives may be on hold for local officers as the federal government shutdown continues.
2 Works For You learning- everything from grants to jail funding is on hold right now.
Jails across Oklahoma have contracts with federal agencies like the United States Marshals Service and Homeland Security to hold their inmates.
We learned our local police and sheriffs' offices rely on federal grants to purchase life-saving equipment to keep citizens and officers safe.
Each year, the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office and Muskogee Police apply for federal grants through the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and directly with the United States Department of Justice.
Those Department of Justice grants go a long way—helping agencies purchase everything from ballistic vests, tasers, firearms and police cars.
“While the government is shut down that entire process is shut down. There's no body there to process the applications. There's nobody to review the applications and ultimate there's nobody there to make the award announcement and process the checks,” said Lt. Nick Mahoney, a spokesman for the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office.
Agencies we spoke with have reserve funds to help while the government is closed-- administrators will do their best and adjust budgets if necessary.
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