Officer Safety Equipment Initiative and Upgrade

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 disparate jurisdictions of the County of St. Joseph and the Cities of Mishawaka and South Bend will use their Fiscal Year 2008 Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $54,111 to continue their public safety efforts. The fiscal agent, the City of South Bend, will use $37,091 to continue the Police Department's upgrade of mobile video technology from analog to digital through the purchase of in-car video systems. St. Joseph County will use $5,411 to purchase mobile data terminals for patrol vehicles and tasers so that all law enforcement personnel possess a taser. The City of Mishawaka will use $11,609 to: 1) expand the keyless entry system to the substation in order to increase the level of security within the building; 2) purchase a wireless barcode scanner that is compatible with the agency's record management system in order to more efficiently and accurately track evidence; 3) purchase monitors for the agency's computers; and 4) purchase portable radar units to monitor the speed of traffic to help decrease unsafe driving.

NCA/NCF