SALINAS POLICE OUTLINE SPENDING vs

THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PURCHASING SOME NEW EQUIPMENT. CHIEF OF POLICE DAN ORTEGA SAID THEY RECEIVED 2 FEDERAL GRANTS TOTALING $475,000, WHICH WILL BE USED TO PARTIALLY FUND A COUNTY WIDE BALLISTIC PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT WILL USE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR AN INTEGRATED BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS HIRE A SYSTEM TECHNICIAN. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO ADD NEW COMPARISON MICROSCOPES, AND HIRE A FIREARMS EXAMINER. THE NEW PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT IS EXPECTED TO HELP THE CITY IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE.