Sustainment of Police Teleserve Unit

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 Kansas City, Kansas Police Department will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG funds to sustain their Police Teleserve Unit. Specifically, funding will be used to pay the salaries of two Program Technicians who serve as supervisors and four Office Assistants in the Teleserve Unit for October, November, and December of 2008. On January 1, 2009 the Teleserve Unit will switch to the Unified Government General Fund. The Teleserve Unit assists police officers in facilitating calls for service from the community by acquiring necessary information for incidents and preparing reports by way of telephone. Officers are able to spend more time in the field combating crime because the Teleserve Unit completes misdemeanor police reports and handles information calls.

NCA/NCF