Baldwin and Eudora police departments will fortify their headquarters with new security systems, using federal grants allocated for bolstering homeland security in Douglas County.

County commissioners tentatively agreed Monday to buy equipment, database services and security systems to help brace for future disasters, from tornadoes to terrorist attacks.

The security systems for the two police headquarters will be expected to gird the respective communities’ emergency-response hubs, in case trouble shows up on their doorsteps.

“It’s especially important in a community our size,” said Baldwin Police Chief Mike McKenna, whose department of eight officers works out of a building without any dedicated security system. “If you break down the infrastructure — which the police department is a major part of — you’ve compromised the safety of the community.”

Commissioners tentatively approved $84,000 in grant purchases Monday, but agreed to hold off the actual transactions for another week. Commissioner Jere McElhaney said he wanted to review details of the recommendations.

The $84,000 represents the balance of funds available to the county from 2003. Commissioners already agreed to use nearly $250,000 in grants to buy a new mobile command vehicle.

The vehicle, on order from Lawrence-based Brown Cargo Van Inc., is expected to be delivered this fall.

Here is a list of the expenditures tentatively approved Monday:

• $50,000 for a portable communications repeater, and equipment to provide mobile data and connectivity of communications systems.
• $19,000 for chemical-detection equipment, a portable generator, decontamination litter, a database subscription to aid in identification of hazards, and related equipment.
• $10,000 for building security for Baldwin Police Department.
• $5,000 for building security for Eudora Police Department.

Officials from police, fire and other emergency-response departments in the county are reviewing other departmental needs that could be satisfied using federal grants. The county expects to receive an additional $500,000 in homeland-security grants for 2004.