The Taylorville Police Department is a recent recipient of money and equipment for two separate purposes.  One such case is for their Emergency Response Team to boost response capabilities when SWAT officers are needed.  The other grant is for law enforcement campaigns for specific time periods such as Independence Day.

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler is overseeing both efforts.  He says his department received donations for SWAT equipment from notable names in the area. 

With the new equipment now in, Chief Wheeler now hopes to add to the personnel on the SWAT team. 

As for law enforcement campaigns, the grants for that purpose allow for increased staffing when the department sees a need.  Chief Wheeler says the Independence Day campaign will focus on the use of electric bicycles and golf carts, among other trends. 

The Taylorville Police Department and its community policing team will be holding multiple events in July to connect with the community they serve.  The events include “Kids, Cops, and Ice Cream,” along with “Fishing with Police Officers.”

More information on the Taylorville Police Department is available at www.taylorville.net/police-dept. 

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.