Enhancement of Officer Safety Initiative

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local governments, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and 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, including 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 and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The city of Sanford will use the JAG funds to improve police officers' safety within the Sanford Police Department. Specifically, the department will provide each officer with a holster that will accommodate a handgun-mounted mini LED light that is specifically designed for the assigned department firearm. This will enable the police officer to maintain both of their hands on their drawn firearm, alleviating the need to remove one of their hands from their firearm to handle a separate flashlight. This equipment will not only support the officer during the nighttime hours but will also support the officer when they must enter many of the vacant unlighted buildings located throughout the jurisdiction.

NCA/NCF