FY23 Justice Assistance Grant/ To be utilized for the purchase of drug detection/tracking canine and equipment for the canine program.

The 2023 Justice Assistance Grant applied for by the Columbia Police Department is intended to be used toward canines, equipment, and supplies for our department that services a city of approximately 44,000 people. One project goal in an effort to combat the rise of drug trafficking, including that of methamphetamine would be to purchase a drug detection canine, an appropriate canine housing area (kennel), and equipment related to the safe transportation and deployment of the drug detection canine Currently our department does not have a drug detection canine. The availability of a drug detection canine is expected to result in better detection of illegal drugs that are trafficked in our jurisdiction. Illegal drugs, such as Heroin, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, are often hidden from view in vehicles and homes. The use of a drug detection canine would allow for a better chance of detection of such illegal drugs while performing law enforcement activities such as traffic stops, service of search warrants, and building searches. The Columbia Police Department was awarded a previous JAG grant in 2021 which was also marked for drug detection canine and equipment. It has been the desire from the initial application for our department to procure two drug detection canines for the purpose of having more coverage and availability. We are currently in the process of procuring our first canine from the 2021 awarded JAG grant and are seeking the 2023 JAG grant to complete this project in whole.