For the past 12 years, the block grants from the Department of Justice have given by the County Commissioners to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Court Administrator. This year, the BOCC resurrected the Public Safety Coordinating Council – which last met July 2006 – to take the money away from the ECSO and divide it among other agencies.
Sheriff Morgan recommended that the $834,000 be used to fund a mental health court. He was shot down today at the PSCC meeting – receiving only $387,169 which will fund a couple case workers for the next four years.
Instead the Council voted to recommend to the BOCC that Pensacola Junior College Police Department be given $135,039 (yes, a state agency getting funds intended for local enforcement) for a large voice system and video surveillance cameras.
Drug Court will get $154,000 to pay treatment slots at Lakeview Center for the next two years – cost $3500 each.
State Attorney gets the balance $157,792 to fund an assistant State Attorney that will focus on gang and gun violence.
