A major federal investment is headed to the St. Petersburg Police Department aimed at improving emergency response times, expanding law enforcement visibility and strengthening public safety operations across the city.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is set to present a check Tuesday morning for $480,000 in federal funding to support the St. Petersburg Police Department’s Public Safety Vehicles Project. The funding will help the city purchase new police vehicles, allowing the department to expand its take-home vehicle program for sworn officers.

City and police leaders say the investment is about more than just adding vehicles to the fleet. The goal is to improve readiness when emergencies happen by ensuring officers have immediate access to assigned vehicles and can respond more quickly to calls for service.

The additional vehicles will be distributed across St. Pete’s three police districts, helping support daily operations while improving the department’s overall preparedness and response capabilities.

According to city officials, officers assigned to take-home vehicles can often begin responding to incidents more quickly than officers who must first report to a station to retrieve a shared patrol vehicle.

Police leaders also say assigned vehicles help streamline shift changes and reduce downtime, ensuring continuous public safety coverage throughout the city.

Another benefit, officials say, is vehicle maintenance. Because officers are responsible for their assigned vehicles, the department sees less wear and tear compared to vehicles used by multiple officers throughout the day. The approach can help keep vehicles cleaner, more reliable and in service longer.

St. Petersburg has expanded its take-home vehicle fleet over the years using revenue from the Penny for Pinellas sales tax program. However, city leaders say fleet growth has not kept pace with the department’s current needs as the city continues to grow.

The new federal funding is expected to help close that gap.

The department plans to purchase new Ford Explorer SUVs, with officials aiming to select hybrid models whenever possible. City leaders say the hybrid vehicles could help lower long-term fuel costs while reducing overall operating expenses.

Officials also believe increasing the number of marked patrol vehicles throughout neighborhoods can serve as a visible deterrent to crime and help residents feel safer.

Congresswoman Luna will formally present the funding during an event Tuesday morning at St. Petersburg Police Department headquarters.

Joining her will be Mayor Ken Welch, City Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz and Police Chief Anthony Holloway