Ridgefield police department receives grant from Cowlitz Indian Tribe

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield Police Department received a $70,000 grant for a new patrol vehicle from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. The agency’s public safety department serves a 7-square-mile community and about 8,900 residents with around-the-clock coverage. The new vehicle will provide staff with additional capabilities to responde to emergency and public safety needs. “The city of Ridgefield has been a valuable partner to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and our growing business ventures, and we appreciate the dedication of the Ridgefield Police Department,” Philip Harju, chairman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, said in a news release. “We are pleased to provide additional resources that will help them in their mission of service every day.” “The Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s investment in the region has created new opportunities for Ridgefield and the surrounding area, and as our area grows, so do our responsibilities to keep our community members safe,” John Brooks, Ridgefield Police Department chief of police, said in the release. “We are grateful to the Cowlitz people for keeping our department well equipped with their generous gift.”