2023 Anti-Gun and Violent Crime Jag Grant

JAG funds will allow the City of Decatur to deploy more police officers to the streets in the areas where the highest number of violent crimes and gun violence are being committed. Officers will become more efficient and effective in identifying areas of increased criminal activity. Decatur police officers will review police reports, Crime Stoppers tips, and collect information from the department’s crime analysts, undercover drug unit and narcotics detectives, and reference ongoing investigations. Personnel will utilize this information to target the “hot spots” in Decatur where gun violence and other violent crimes are most predominate. Decatur police officers will work proactive overtime hire backs in the form of anti-gun and gang suppression units, bike patrols, foot patrols, increased numbers of motorized patrols, and saturate the areas where the highest number of crimes are being committed. Patrols will give officers the opportunity to interact with citizens, the basis of community policing, to gather their input as to why they believe violent crimes are being committed and why individuals are selecting their neighborhoods for criminal activity as well as develop specific information known to the residents of the community. Macon Count will use their subrecipient JAG funds to assist the Decatur Police Department by providing deputies to increase officer coverage in areas with high gun and violent crimes. The project goal will be to ensure the citizens in these high crime areas have a heightened sense of safety in their communities and to target and arrest those involved with gun violence and other violent crimes.