Queen Creek accepts $1.9M federal grant for critical incident response

An almost $2 million federal grant to pay for police critical incident vehicles and equipment has been accepted by the Queen Creek Town Council.

The $1.948 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance for Critical Incident Management Resources will be used to purchase mobile command and rapid response vehicles, as well as special event vehicle barriers for the Queen Creek Police Department.

“The town of Queen Creek and the Queen Creek Police Department continue to face the ongoing challenge of effectively responding to critical incidents and public safety emergencies within the town and the surrounding communities,” according to a staff report.

The council accepted the grant at its Wednesday meeting on a 6-0 vote. Council Member Travis Padilla was absent from the meeting.

The item was part of the consent agenda in which all items are approved or rejected with one vote unless a council member or member of the town staff asks that an item be removed for a separate discussion and vote.

Critical incidents include natural disasters, acts of terrorism, large-scale accidents or large, complex crime scenes that require swift and coordinated law enforcement response, the report stated.

“The acquisition of specialized vehicles and equipment will enhance the department’s ability to establish effective incident command centers, deploy specialized units promptly, and mitigate potential threats effectively,” the report continued.

A growing population and increasing visitor traffic in the town amplifies “the vulnerability to various security threats, including vehicle-ramming attacks, unauthorized entry attempts and public safety emergencies at large public events,” the report continued.

A mobile command vehicle can serve as a fully equipped command center during large-scale emergencies and criminal investigations, providing responding personnel with real-time communication, coordination and decision-making capabilities.

A rapid response vehicle can quickly deploy specialized police units to critical incidents and serve as a mobile workspace.

Annual maintenance and fuel costs for both vehicles will total $23,000.

The grant money will also be used to acquire portable vehicle barriers to reduce the risk of vehicle-ramming attacks during large public events.

Last year, the council accepted a $67,140 grant from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to purchase metal vehicle barriers for crowd protection.

According to the Director of National Intelligence, vehicle-ramming attacks by terrorists are “the most common type of vehicle-borne attack used in the United States.”

“In 2021, a domestic terrorist used a vehicle to murder six people and injured a dozen more attending a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin,” a 2023 council staff report stated. “Waukesha is a community similar in size to Queen Creek and is known for its numerous community events.”

The now-discontinued Halloween Trunk or Treat event alone could draw up to 20,000 people.

The Justice Department grant period runs through June 30, 2027, but all the funds are expected to be spent within the first or second year, the report stated.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.