Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $56,473)
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 jurisdiction consisting of Solano County and the cities of Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo have jointly agreed to use the total Fiscal Year 2008 Local JAG funds ($56,473) to support law enforcement helicopter operations within the county and cities' jurisdictions.
None of the governmental bodies in Solano County have a helicopter program, and law enforcement agencies are collectively at a disadvantage when conducting search operations for suspects or marijuana suppression operations in remote areas. To overcome this problem, the agencies have partnered together with the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office for dedicated "flight time" over Solano County. This will allow the use of a helicopter to assist peace officers on the ground in large-scale anti-gang operations, find fleeing suspects from crime scenes or from the two local state prisons, conduct search and rescue operations, and support law enforcement operations in very remote areas.
This funding will only be used to support helicopter operations, such as the cost of piloting and operating the helicopter and fuel costs. This will allow the county and cities to have the ability to view events in the air to better deploy and move resources on the ground to achieve operational goals.
NCA/NCF