Regional Mobile Crime Scene Unit

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Trophy Club Police Department will utilize Byrne Discretionary Category III funds (Enhancing Local Law Enforcement) to quickly respond to crime scenes and arsons through a properly equipped mobile crime scene unit. This vehicle will allow the department to increase the number of charges filed against criminal offenders by allowing crime scene investigators and analysts to expedite the collection, processing, and analysis of evidence by performing such functions directly at reported crime scenes. This unit will serve the growing community of Trophy Club in addition to surrounding areas, such as Argyle, Justin, Marshall Creek, Roanoke, Double Oak, Northlake, and other areas that request crime scene unit services. The mobile unit will remain with the crime scene investigator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Federal funds will be utilized to purchase one vehicle and to fully equip the mobile unit with necessary supplies (medical, hazardous material protection, and DNA evidence and collection) and equipment (lighting, computer hardware and software, and cameras).

CA/NCF