Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $424,815)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget.
The city of East Palo Alto will fund a gang suppression project. The city has experienced an increase in gang violence in recent years. The city will use the grant funds to improve the police department's capacity to address crime, violence, and gang activity. The city's goal is to disrupt the activities of criminal organizations by identifying and aggressively prosecuting gang members associated with the four largest gangs in the city for the commission of violent and non-serious offenses in order to prevent them from committing more serious and violent offenses. To meet this goal, the city will contract with an attorney to focus on civil injunctions against violent gangs and gang members and nuisance abatement for blighted properties.
The grant will also fund police overtime to conduct undercover operations, conduct surveillance of known gangs, and identify property owners who knowingly allow gangs to rent their properties. Officers also will attend meetings of the San Mateo County Gang Action Team, as well as other local and federal task force meetings. Grant funds will also be used to install the ShotSpotter system citywide to determine the location of gunfire. This system will allow police and medical personnel to respond more quickly to shooting scenes.
NCA/NCF