First responder spending shifts

First responder spending gradually is shifting from emergency response to recovery operations, an industry official told the Washington Technology Council.

The shift means fewer dollars are flowing to firefighters, and more is flowing to law enforcement, said Jeff Ellis, homeland security program manager for Lockheed Martin Corp.

The change in focus comes at a time when funding to the states has improved because of a new office within the Homeland Security Department tasked with grant distribution, said Dena Kisala, vice president of market development services with market research firm Input Inc., Reston, Va. The Office for State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness coordinates the programs and policies for funding and information sharing with state and local governments.