Local Law Enforcement Equipment and Services Augmentation Program

Four years after COVID-19 sparked a global pandemic, we have moved to an endemic phase.  The economy suffered during the pandemic and local and state governments are slowly recovering even with infusion of revenue from the federal government.  We are now experiencing high inflation with the cost of goods and services increasing, including high interest rates.  These factors are affecting the property and sales tax revenue local governments rely on when building their general fund budgets.  The City and County of Fresno are part of this growing issue and as a result Public Safety, specifically local law enforcement, continues to rely heavily on grant funds to fulfill needed, yet unfunded essential equipment.  Continued utilization of funding to enhance existing programs and needed equipment is pivotal. 

The County of Fresno incorporates over one million residents including 546,718 in the City of Fresno alone.  As the two largest agencies in the County, the Fresno Police Department and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will utilize funding for law enforcement equipment to augment current programs within our respective agencies.  The 2024 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds will continue to allow local law enforcement agencies to control and reduce crime through the acquisition of necessary equipment, supplies and training.  These basic needs are left unfunded in our local budgets but remain essential in the fight against crime.  The Fresno Police Department will provide ammunition, special unit operational costs, communications and safety equipment for a variety of specialized enforcement units.  All are crucial in policing a large urban setting. The Sheriff’s Office will make effective use of their funds for the purchase of less-lethal weapons, such as tasers and taser cartridges.  This equipment will be utilized by the deputy sheriff’s when dealing with violent/potentially violent subjects and for corrections staff who are assigned to guard incarcerated people at off-site medical facilities (hospitals, skilled nursing facility, etc.).

Providing officer and citizen safety through the acquisition of equipment and support services to address crime will allow for expanded services to include grant compliance support and essential safety equipment through a coordinated effort.  The community advisory board meetings implemented have enabled us to develop and prioritize our funding strategies to ensure we do our best serving the communities utilizing this funding in the most efficient manner.