Chief asks council permission to pursue federal opioid and veterans-treatment grants

The police chief asked the mayor and council for approval to pursue two federal grant opportunities aimed at expanding diversion and treatment capacity: a comprehensive opioid, stimulant and substance-use program and a federal veterans treatment court program.

Staff described the opioid opportunity as having a ceiling near $1.3 million for eligible applicants (with 20 awards nationally) and the veterans treatment court program as carrying a ceiling near $950,000 (with six awards nationally). The chief said award amounts could be lower than the ceilings and that the city would serve as the fiscal applicant with nonprofit partners performing implementation work.

The chief said the grants would build on local coordination under the Natrona County Safety and Justice group, noting a three-level mobile response framework and partnership with WYSAAC at the University of Wyoming to assist with the opioid application. Councilors asked whether additional funding would meaningfully increase diversion throughput; the chief said the awards would bolster diversion and related initiatives and that a stakeholder group is already designing an application structure.

Councilors gave informal consent for staff to proceed with drafting applications and collaborating with local nonprofit partners; staff did not present a formal acceptance resolution at the pre-meeting and said grant awards would require later formal acceptance by the council if awarded.