Grant guru has brought $500K to PD over 4 years Patrolman moonlights as grant writer for Police Department BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer KATHY CHANG Over the last four years, Patrolman David Liantonio has brought in $551,209 worth of state and county grants for the borough’s police department. METUCHEN — Writing grants has become Patrolman David Liantonio’s specialty. Over the last four years, Liantonio brought in $551,209 worth of state and county grants for the borough’s Police Department. “Dave has been invaluable in that area for the department,” said Police Chief James Keane. “He’s developed contacts with the state Division of Criminal Justice. It’s important to have a good relationship with them. And not only can he write grants, he has been able to secure the grants as well.” Liantonio, a 12-year veteran of the force, began working in the records department in 2000 and never thought he would use what he learned in graduate school for the department. “I was already on the force for five years and at the same time I was getting my master’s degree in public administration from Seton Hall [University],” said Liantonio, who at one point had aspirations of going to law school. “I graduated right around the time I began working in records. Writing grants was one of my assignments, so the only thing new was to learn how to manage records.” Prior to five years ago, the department had received a minimal number of grants. “We only received a bulletproof-vest grant and a seatbelt grant,” said Liantonio. Keane, who became chief in 1998, said there was a decision made to start aggressively seeking out grants for the department. “We knew a lot was out there,” Keane said. “We just needed to start looking. Dave has done a fine job for the department, as well as the borough. Writing grants is only one of his many duties.” Liantonio, who works five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., has other duties that range from vehicle repair maintenance, computer repair and teaching Drug Abuse Resistance Education [DARE] at the schools, to cell block manager and granting firearm permits. “It’s not always easy juggling all the different tasks,” he said. “In between, I look for grants. The chief lets me explore and work at my own pace. Or he’ll come to me with an idea, and I will search for what fits his idea. Then we will talk it over.” Of all the grants the department has received, Keane said the $190,000 state domestic preparedness equipment grant for communications that the department received in 2005 was probably the biggest asset to the department’s productivity as well as safety. “The grant allowed us to upgrade our communication system,” Keane said. “Each officer and auxiliary member received radio consoles. The grant also aided the fire department and first aid squad by upgrading their communication system as well.” The department switched from a VHF radio system to a UHF system, which allows them to communicate with the fire department and the first aid squad. Keane said the $44,520 Special Purpose Grant for the Mobile Data Terminal [MDT] for the police cars that the department received this year has been a big asset also. The MDTs are in the process of being installed. The MDTs will allow the officer more access to the network to run license plates, which will add to the productivity of arrests. The patrolmen will be able to write their field reports and send them to the records bureau, the chief said. Another grant that has benefited the department is the Division of Highway Safety Seatbelt Grant. Over three years, the department has received a total of $22,240 from DHS. “The grant allows us to pay our officers overtime to specifically look for seatbelt violators,” said Keane. The chief said his department is fortunate to receive the number of grants it does. “Our local assemblymen Peter Barnes and Patrick Diegnan and our state Senator Barbara Buono [D-18] have been helpful,” Keane said. “Most of our grants have come from the state. Otherwise, we would have to take money out of our own budget.”