COMPANY AIMS TO AID POLICE FUND.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

The city has agreed to hire a grant writing firm that promises to raise $1 million for the Simi Valley Police Department - or forfeit its $75,000 fee.

The City Council has unanimously approved a 14-month contract with Griffin Grant Writing and Consulting Services, a Mill Valley company that officials hope will raise funds for a mobile digital computer system for police cruisers.

``We said, `Of course!' '' said City Councilwoman Barbara Williamson of the money-back guarantee. ``Grant writers seem to be the real buzz word of the 1990s. We always know the Police Department can use money.''

Lt. Neal Rein, who administers grants for the Police Department, said Griffin Grant Writing and Consulting Services has raised more than $300 million for law enforcement agencies throughout the state and claims a 99 percent success rate. Locally, the firms has worked for agencies in Oxnard, Long Beach and Covena.

``It's not a risk to the city, and potentially a tremendous amount of gain for us,'' he said.

Even if Griffin fails to raise $1 million and must return the fee, the Police Department can keep whatever funds Griffin does raise. The Mill Valley firm will be paid a 4 percent commission for any amount it raises in excess of $1 million.

Patricia Kramer of Griffin Grant Writing deferred all comments to the firm's president, John A. Griffin, who was traveling and unreachable.

The federal grants for communications technology that Griffin officials will seek would bolster a $197,200 pilot program approved by the council in June.

Although that program was to allow police to buy a dozen laptop computers for cruisers and two desktop computers, the Police Department postponed purchase of the equipment after learning of the Griffin proposal, according to Mary Humphries, senior administrative officer for the Police Department.

``We're waiting to see what the grant writers can come up with. It may allow us to go further than we expected,'' she said. ``We're very excited about it. We think it holds a lot of potential.''

Councilman Paul Miller said that if the relationship with Griffin is successful, the firm also might seek funds for a broader range of city projects.

``It sounds to me like a deal we can't pass up,'' he said. ``We should avail ourselves of every opportunity to raise funds. There's a lot of things we could use it for.''

Rein said that while a great deal of money is available to law enforcement agencies through the 1994 federal crime bill, a grant writer is needed to create competent, competitive applications.

``The grants are very competitive,'' he said. ``Even though there's a lot of money, a lot of agencies vie for it. People who do this on a regular basis, they know the ropes. You need to make your case in the best possible manner to be noticed.''