Fond du Lac council approves application for $14,866 JAG to buy suppressors for SWAT rifles

The Fond du Lac City Council voted unanimously April 22 to authorize a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) application for $14,866 to purchase suppressors for the police department’s SWAT rifles.

Chief Goldstein told the council the grant is a formula award based on population and part-one violent crime statistics and requires no local match. He said the department previously replaced 15 end-of-life rifles but did not have funds to purchase suppressors, which he described as “proven safety measures during high-risk operations.” He added suppressors reduce extreme noise in confined environments, lower the risk of immediate hearing damage and improve officers’ ability to communicate and make critical decisions.

Goldstein said the funding would be used in late 2026 if the application is successful. There was no public comment during the earlier public hearing on the grant; councilors asked no follow-up questions and approved submitting the application.

The resolution to apply carried by unanimous vote. No additional conditions or matching funds were required for the city to submit the application.

The next procedural step is submission of the application for the 2025 JAG program; Chief Goldstein indicated implementation would proceed if and when the grant award is received.