The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and City of Fairhope will each receive federal funding from the Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office will receive $396,000 to upgrade its public safety equipment, including the acquisition of a patrol and rescue boat and other essential water safety gear. This funding addresses the
challenges posed by Baldwin County's coastline, which attracts millions of visitors annually.

"Baldwin County is at the heart of Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast and offers so much for Alabamians and tourists alike to enjoy, but this natural beauty and extensive coastline also comes with significant challenges for law enforcement," said U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. "With this $396,000, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office would be able to upgrade its public safety equipment to better protect our families and communities year-round."

Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack expressed his appreciation for the funding, calling it a crucial investment in the safety of both residents and the numerous visitors who come to enjoy Baldwin County's pristine beaches.

"This particular grant will help us to ensure the safety of not only those who live in our county, but of the thousands of the United States citizens that visit us each year," Mack said. "I'm extremely appreciative of Sen. Britt and her attention to this matter. Baldwin County and its beaches are great, and this will ensure us to make sure that we continue to offer the best and safest environment for all of those who come here."

For Fairhope, the committee awarded $400,000 to enhance the city's law enforcement capabilities through upgraded public safety equipment and technology. Britt emphasized the importance of this investment in equipping local officers with the tools they need to effectively protect their community.

"When I joined the Senate Appropriations Committee, I promised to bring Alabamians' hard-earned dollars home. Ensuring our exemplary law enforcement officers have the best tools to protect their fellow Alabamians and themselves is a top priority for me in that effort," Britt said. "This $400,000 would invest in the safety of our friends, families, neighbors and communities, and it would provide key upgrades for our law enforcement officers in the City of Fairhope."

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan expressed her gratitude.

"We so appreciate Sen. Britt's continued support and her commitment to law enforcement and public safety," Sullivan said. "This appropriation will help Fairhope continue offering the level of safety that our officers and citizens deserve."

Beyond the local impact, Britt has also championed broader justice-related initiatives across Alabama, securing $750,000 for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences' Rapid DNA Implementation Program. This funding will enable the department to expand the use of DNA technology statewide, allowing law enforcement to more quickly identify and prosecute violent criminals.

"The Rapid DNA Implementation Program would help put vital information in the hands of our law enforcement community in a timelier manner," Britt said. "This $750,000 would enable Alabama to begin implementation of its statewide Rapid DNA deployment plan. I was proud to secure these funds to help provide law enforcement with critical information needed to identify and prosecute violent criminals."

Angelo Della Manna, director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, expressed gratitude, highlighting the potential of the Rapid DNA program to revolutionize crime-solving efforts across the state.

"Sen. Britt's support of this innovative use of forensic science technology to connect the crime laboratory to the booking station will aid our statewide efforts to continue making Alabama, and this country, a safer place each and every day," Manna said.

Overall, Britt secured $7.16 million in justice-related funding for Alabama. The Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, including these vital allocations, now awaits consideration by the full Senate.