Colleyville is applying for a grant from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to help reimburse overtime expenses related to the Congregation Beth Israel attack and fund improvements to its emergency operations center.

The Colleyville City Council approved a resolution at its March 22 meeting for Kenny Phillips, the city’s emergency services coordinator, to apply for the Justice Assistance Grant program through the Texas governor's office, according to the agenda item’s memo.

The JAG program supports state and local agencies in “the prevention and reduction of violent crime,” according to the governor’s website.

The city is seeking $38,470.41 for funding related to the personnel costs and $354,289.46 for funding to upgrade the technology and equipment at the Colleyville Police Department’s emergency operations command center, Colleyville Fire Department Chief Mark Cantrell said at the meeting.

If granted, Colleyville plans to use the JAG funds to reimburse the city for overtime expenses incurred while responding to the Congregation Beth Israel attack and will use any additional funding to enhance Colleyville’s Emergency Operations Center, the memo states.


“These funds were made available through the Department of Justice through Gov. Abbott’s office,” Cantrell said. “This started out as us looking for a funding opportunity for some reimbursement. And that has expanded into an opportunity for us to redo our emergency operations center from a technology standpoint.”

The resolution comes after British citizen Malik Faisal Akram took four people hostage at Congregation Beth Israel on Jan. 15, according to multiple press releases from the city. One hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m., while the other three escaped around 9 p.m. Authorities then killed Akram.

The city will also supply matching local funds “to the extent required” from money in either the city’s capital improvements program or the Colleyville Crime Control and Prevention District budget, according to the resolution.

However, Colleyville City Manager Jerry Ducay said the only reason there is language in the resolution about using local funds is if there is something unique that needs to be done as part of the larger effort that would increase the cost.


“But we don't anticipate that,” Ducay said. “In fact, we anticipate the grant paying for the entire improvement.”