Enhancement to peace officer (firearm) training.

Smith County has entered into an Interlocal agreement with the Tyler Police Department as a sub-recipient to equally share the 2024 JAG program allocation to enhance its existing law enforcement personnel safety response program. The Smith County Sheriff's Office is requesting to unitize JAG funding to purchase ammunition that will be used in an existing law enforcement program which includes our SWAT Team Officers. The one-half share available to both the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Tyler Police Department is $28,801.50.
The current state of the economy has resulted in less funding available for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to purchase equipment to enhance law enforcement programs. There continues to be mandated training required by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) such as firearms proficiency, which requires each Peace Officer employed to successfully demonstrate firearm proficiency by qualifying at least once each year. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is requesting to purchase ammunition to meet or exceed the minimum firearms training requirement for Peace Officers, which includes officers assigned to our SWAT team. All types of ammunition to be purchased are less than .50 caliber. Ammunition needing to be purchased with JAG funds will be 9 mm and 223 or 5.56 Full Metal Jacket or Hornaday depending on availability.
The disparate jurisdictions of Smith County, Texas and the City of Tyler, Texas will use JAG funds for equipment. The City of Tyler as the sub-recipient has entered into an Interlocal Agreement with Smith County, Texas to equally share the BJA FY24 allocation to enhance police officer equipment at the Tyler Police Department for criminal justice purposes. Specifically, the City of Tyler will use JAG funds to purchase law enforcement equipment for traffic control and traffic enforcement, digital cameras for crime scene processing and photography, and tactical entry tools. The one-half share available to the City of Tyler Police Department is $28,801.50.