Freeport awarded $1.3 million grant for police and emergency management expansion

Freeport Village has been awarded a $1.3 million grant from Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s office to enhance the local police department and Office of Emergency Management.

The funding will be used to expand the village’s emergency services infrastructure, specifically adding new facilities to support both the police and emergency management teams.

“We’re getting $1.3 million from Congressman D’Esposito for the police department, (and for the Office of Emergency Management)” Mayor Kennedy said.

The expansion project will involve extending the current building over the garage attached to the police department, creating approximately 4,000 square feet of additional space.

Mayor Kennedy emphasized the importance of the new space for Freeport’s Office of Emergency Management, stating, “It’s kind of tough with our Office of Emegency Management anyway; we need more room, so the police will have an extended portion of Village Hall.”

The new facilities will house updated equipment and provide the much-needed room to improve the operations of both departments.

“Emergency Management will be in the police department,” Kennedy added, explaining that both entities will share the new space.

Engineering and architectural plans are currently being submitted, with the village aiming to break ground on the project early next year.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to break ground on this, I would say, probably the beginning of the year,” the mayor shared.

The grant is part of a larger effort to support Freeport’s first responders while avoiding increases in local taxes. “All this money they’re getting in grants saves our taxpayers from increasing tax because this is grant money,” the mayor explained.

The village had also previously secured $330,000 in federal funding for new computers, printers, and tasers for the police department.

Mayor Kennedy worked personally with Congressman D’Esposito on securing the funds, stating, “I was working with our congressman to see if we can help our police and also emergency management.”

The expansion project is expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of Freeport’s police and emergency management teams.

“It definitely will be an advantage to our police and our Office of Emergency Management to have updated equipment and sufficient room to operate properly,” Kennedy noted.

Congressman D’Esposito, when asked for comment about the grant, had this to say: ”As a retired NYPD Detective, I know firsthand the value of investing in emergency preparedness infrastructure, and I am confident the federal funding I secured for the Village of Freeport will go a long way towards ensuring local first responders have the resources needed to safeguard this South Shore community during emergency situations long into the future.”

The village plans to move forward quickly with the expansion, and residents can expect to see construction beginning in early 2025.