Henderson Police Department Crime Prevention/Investigation, Equipment Upgrade and Community Oriented Policing Initiative

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The Henderson Police Department and County Sheriff's Department's will jointly utilize the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 JAG award to promote highway safety by deterring reckless speeding in small communities, and maintain and improve the working relationship with the Department of Juvenile Services and with the juvenile offenders they supervise. In order to achieve these goals the departments will: 1) Provide video and audio recordings of officer contacts with citizens. The recorded evidence will allow the Department to review the contacts with citizens to determine if the complaints against the officers are valid, will increase the officers conviction rate in court, and allow the Department to provide information to citizens and community groups about legitimate complaints verses false allegations against officers; 2) Provide overtime to officers in order to take the Juvenile Justice employees to the juveniles homes for visits. These visits are conducted in the evening to check on court ordered curfews; and 3) Purchase a hand held radar unit which will be used to reduce speeding on highways and roads in the county. The hand held radar unit will allow deputies on different shifts to monitor roadways and deter speeding.

NCA/NCF