The Hollister Police Department has been awarded its second
CalGRIP grant, in the amount of $369,309, from the state.
The Hollister Police Department has been awarded its second CalGRIP grant, in the amount of $369,309, from the state.
Hollister was one of 24 cities in the state to receive the award, according to a presentation at Monday’s city council meeting. Overall, over $9.2 million in competitive grant awards were given, according to a statement.
Councilmember Victor Gomez and Police Chief Jeff Miller attended a press conference in Los Angeles on Dec.17 where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the awards. It is part of the governor’s California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention initiative.
The grant will fund a new gang officer position in the Hollister Police Department; support the Neighborhood Center at the Rancho Park Apartments; implement the Bullying Prevention Project at two additional schools (one in the Hollister School District and one in the Aromas-San Juan School District); provide funding for an intern in the San Benito County Probation Department; and provide for the purchase of supplies in support of the Night Reporting Center.
Hollister’s grant application was prepared by Al De Vos, San Benito County’s gang prevention coordinator. The position was created following the recommendation of the Hollister Gang Task Force Advisory Board, and is funded through a cooperative agreement of the City of Hollister, the County of San Benito, the Hollister School District and the San Benito County Office of Education.
One of the responsibilities of the coordinator is to submit grant applications to bring funding for gang prevention, intervention and suppression efforts to San Benito County. This successful grant application brings a total of $751,948 to San Benito County for such activities – since De Vos’s appointment in September 2009.
“We are all excited and pleased at the opportunities the CalGRIP grant will bring to the City of Hollister and to the County as a whole,” said Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller, in an announcement. “The police officer position funded by this grant will be dedicated solely to gang crime investigation and suppression, and the assigned officer will work closely with other agencies.”
