The Baton Rouge Metro Council accepted a $1.16 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday to renovate a space in Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) headquarters to better facilitate cooperation on a gang task force with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
BRPD works with HSI to crack down on gang-like organizations. Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said the agreement won’t change anything operationally since the department already works with HSI and other federal agencies, but allows HSI to house agents in Baton Rouge.
The measure passed with 7 votes in favor of it. Two council members, Jen Racca and Cleve Dunn, were absent. Despite accepting the grant, the council will have to sign off on various steps of the construction process before the renovation is complete…