The El Dorado Police Department has been granted authorization to use a portion of coronavirus (COVID-19) relief funds for overtime pay and the department is seeking to use remaining funds for similar purposes.
On April 8, Police Chief Kenny Hickman made requests regarding two federal grants, telling El Dorado City Council members that money has already been approved and authorized for specific purposes and the council’s OK was needed move ahead with the expenditures.
One of the grants, Hickman explained, was part of a COVID-19 grant package that was set aside in a city account and designated for the police department.
He said the funds totaled $48,307, of which $26,218 was pre-approved for overtime pay.
Hickman said officers in the Criminal Investigative Division, or detective division, racked up more than 600 hours of overtime in late 2020 and early 2021.
He referred to several criminal cases — including two homicides, a missing person, multiple shootings and a large fight — all of which occurred in the last quarter of 2020 and the first weeks of 2021.
“We had a lot of incidents there that they worked really, really hard trying to resolve and to slow down and everything, so that kind of put us behind the eight ball,” Hickman told council members.
“So, it’ll be very helpful if we can move those funds. Again, they are designated for that … and I would like permission to move that into our overtime line item,” he said.
He said the remainder of the grant was to be used for personal protective equipment, explaining that the grant application was written and the amount requested was divided and based on “what we believed at the time, that we would need a significant, larger amount for the PPE.”
“So, it was split that way and when we received it, $26,218 was already pre-approved for overtime expenses and we’re not going to need that other side of it for the PPE because we received that through some other channels and we’re still going to have some left over,” Hickman said, reiterating that the EPD anticipated spending more of the grant funds on PPE.
He said the department is awaiting approval from state and federal officials on a request to funnel the remainder of the grant toward overtime pay.
The city council also approved a request to use grant money to purchase new hardware and software for the Criminal Investigative Division.
“It’s for two computer units for our detective division to upgrade some hardware and software that they need and it would also include some professional services and security tie-ins and all,” Hickman said. “It’s 100% fully funded … Before we can proceed on that, I’d like your authorization.”
He said the units are $26,055.41 apiece.