Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded the Nassau County Police Department with a grant for $217,600. The grant is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

The grant will assist the Nassau County Police Department in upgrading their equipment to become fully prepared to respond to any situation or natural disaster, and to train officers to deal with a crisis situation.

"Nassau County police officers responded to hundreds of thousands of calls last year," McCarthy said. "We cannot ask so much of these officers without making sure they have up-to-date safety equipment and training."

McCarthy has held an annual grants workshop to help fire and police departments prepare effective grant proposals. Since the first workshop in 2003, more than $3 million in Assistance to Firefighters grants have been awarded to 4th Congressional District firefighters.

"Since 9/11, our emergency responders have been charged with new responsibilities," McCarthy said. "Congress must continue to provide local fire and police departments with the resources to meet these new challenges."