The Amador County Sheriff's Office and Ione Police Department were among nearly 50 smaller state agencies to receive funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the state department of homeland security announced late last month.

Both the sheriff's office and Ione Police Department were awarded $3,717 each for equipment purchases, part of the 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program, which funded a total of $33.7 million to communities throughout the country. California received $785,453 of that money, which was split among 48 smaller communities in the state, including the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol office in Sacramento, both of which received the same amounts as Ione and the sheriff's office in Jackson. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr believed the grant amounts were based on the sizes of each jurisdiction. The city of Suisun, for instance, received $40,235, the largest grant awarded. Three jurisdictions received $32,274 for equipment purchases, including the University of California, San Francisco Police Department, the Ripon Police Department and Newberry Springs Fire Department.

The program provides specialized commercial equipment and related training directly to smaller jurisdictions and eligible metropolitan areas.

There are four categories local agencies can apply for, explained Jay Alan, deputy communications officer for the state governor's Office of Homeland Security. The money is earmarked for specific equipment purchases, which agencies apply for directly through the federal homeland security department.

"This is one that's much more federally driven," Alan said.

The sheriff's office happened upon the grant opportunity several months ago, according to Undersheriff Jim Wegner, applying for a night vision kit to supplement the sheriff's office current supply of five sets of night vision goggles.

The goggles are currently used for investigations, surveillance and SWAT operations, and are loaned out to the new county narcotics task force, Wegner explained. The new kit will come with a mounting apparatus, a de-misting shield and carrying case. It can magnify images up to three times their size.

While pleased to learn the sheriff's office would receive another piece of crime fighting equipment, Wegner cautioned against law enforcement agencies that fall in love with their toys, saying a firm grasp on the basics of investigation was more important to a police officer.

Kerr didn't know what the Ione Police Department would use the grant money for yet, but said the department would make an equipment purchase and be reimbursed through the federal program.