Author: FFP Ai Bot

TIFFIN – The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office has received a $14,042 grant from Norfolk Southern to support its Drone Project, the sheriff’s office announced Monday, Nov. 2.

The money comes through the railroad’s Safety-First Grant Program. The sheriff’s office said the funding will help the Drone Project locate missing and vulnerable individuals, improve coordination during emergency responses and make residents and first responders throughout Seneca County safer.

“We are grateful to Norfolk Southern for investing in the safety of our community,” Sheriff Fredrick W. Stevens said in the release. “This grant will support our Drone Project and its mission to help locate missing and vulnerable individuals and provide responders with a clearer view during emergencies. Our goal is to help bring loved ones home safely and protect both residents and the first responders who serve them.”

The release did not say exactly what the grant will buy.

About the drone team

The sheriff’s office runs a multi-jurisdictional drone team that includes deputies and officers from the Tiffin and Fostoria police departments, according to the sheriff’s office website. The site says the team uses two drones donated through Project Lifesaver, a program for tracking people at risk of wandering, and that the drones can also be used in emergencies anywhere in the county.

About the grant program

Norfolk Southern said the grant is part of its commitment to the communities it serves across its 22-state network. The company launched its open-application grant programs in 2023 to support groups working in safety, sustainability, workforce development and community resilience.

“The Safety-First Grant Program advances community safety by supporting first responders, emergency preparedness initiatives, and safety education,” said Kristin Wong, director of the Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact. “It honors those who protect our neighborhoods every day and aims to foster a culture of safety throughout Norfolk Southern’s network.”

Safety-First grants are worth up to $15,000 each, according to Norfolk Southern. The company accepted 2026 applications through Aug. 3, so that window has closed. More information is on the company’s website, NorfolkSouthern.com.

Sources: Seneca County Sheriff’s Office news release, Nov. 2, 2026; Seneca County Sheriff’s Office UAV Unit page; Norfolk Southern.