Federal Grant Equips Twin Falls County Law Enforcement with Protective Gear, Safety Tools in Idaho
Grant Funds Helmets, Body Armor, Communications Equipment for Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — A federal grant program is helping Twin Falls County law enforcement agencies stretch limited budgets by funding protective gear and emergency equipment — though firearms are strictly off the table.
Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Bishop presented some of the recently acquired equipment during the monthly Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at County West in Twin Falls. Lt. Aaron Koopmans appeared in full SWAT gear to demonstrate some of the protective equipment purchased through the grant, including helmets, body armor, and communications gear.
The equipment was paid for through the State Homeland Security Program, a federal grant administered by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management that provides funding to help counties prepare for potential threats.
“I cannot do guns,” said Jackie Frey, director of the Twin Falls County Office of Emergency Management, who helps coordinate the grant program with individual law enforcement agencies around the county. Frey emphasized that while the grant carries restrictions on what can be purchased, it has still proven to be a highly valuable resource for agencies working with tight budgets.
Capt. Bishop noted that in a time when budgets are stretched thin, the grant funding is especially welcome. Equipping a single SWAT team member can cost approximately $10,000, and helmets and communications equipment alone can run several thousand dollars each. With more than a dozen sets needed, asking taxpayers to foot the entire bill would be a significant burden.
“I can ask taxpayers for all that money,” Bishop said, “or take advantage of grant money.”
The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office operates on a rotation with the grant money and typically receives a distribution every five years. The grant has paid for a wide range of items over the years, from radios for first responders to “Stop the Bleed” first-aid kits for children, as well as traffic control equipment used by law enforcement on the county’s waterways.
Bishop also noted that gas masks held by the department were updated through the program, as the previous masks dated back to the Vietnam War era.
Donated Vehicles, Bomb Squad Robot Among Notable Acquisitions
Beyond the grant program, Bishop highlighted several significant equipment acquisitions the sheriff’s office has secured through donations. The office obtained two MRAP vehicles — mine-resistant, ambush-protected military trucks valued at approximately $600,000 each — at no cost. One came through the federal government and another from Ada County. The sheriff’s office was responsible only for picking them up and covering ongoing maintenance costs.
The heavily armored vehicles, designed to withstand land mines, are used for public relations efforts such as parades, but also provide mobile cover in crisis situations.
In another notable development highlighted at the meeting, the Twin Falls Police Department acquired its first bomb squad robot, with assistance from the grant program — a significant upgrade in the department’s public safety capabilities.
The Twin Falls County Local Emergency Preparedness Committee, which meets the second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room B at County West, is open to members of the public who wish to attend and learn more about local emergency preparedness efforts. Community preparedness has been a growing focus across Magic Valley, as local agencies work to ensure first responders are equipped to handle a range of emergencies. Local fire departments have also been active on that front — earlier this year, Twin Falls firefighters demonstrated their emergency response capabilities during a house fire rescue that included saving two dogs from a burning structure.
On a lighter note, Bishop mentioned the sheriff’s office also uses U-Haul trucks, which it will rent for the upcoming primary elections. The office is responsible for picking up ballots from locations across the county and delivering them to the county clerk.
“We have a couple of deputies driving them out to the different locations,” Bishop said, “and we pick them up and bring them back and deliver them to our clerk.”
The sheriff’s office also supports community safety through its K-9 program. The recent passing of retired ACSO K-9 Django served as a reminder of the vital role law enforcement animals play in keeping Twin Falls County safe.
What Comes Next
The Twin Falls County Local Emergency Planning Committee will continue its monthly meetings at County West, with the public invited to attend. The sheriff’s office will also be preparing for primary election ballot collection in the coming weeks. Officials say the grant program remains a critical tool for maintaining public safety infrastructure without placing additional tax burdens on county residents. For more on Idaho public safety and emergency management news, visit Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.