Taylorville’s Safe Passage program receives a major grant. 

Police chief Dwayne Wheeler received an email Friday stating the program will receive a grant for just over $105,000 from the Community Law Enforcement Partnership & Other First Responders as part of the Deflection & Substance Abuse Treatment Act. 

Taylorville Police Department is the only central Illinois department to receive this grant. The program awarded four other grants to departments in the Chicago area. 

Chief Wheeler says that the grant will help the city expand the Safe Passage program to conduct more community outreach programs, as well as providing education to youth while training officers in mental health. 

He adds that he is humbled that the program chose his department and that he is proud of all the hard work his employees perform daily. Chief Wheeler says this grant shows that TPD is making a difference. 

City council still has to vote to adopt this grant at its next board meeting Thursday, Nov. 4.