Lowell Officer Recovery Initiative (LORI)

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act') and by 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new website ' Recovery.gov ' to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funded under the Recovery Act is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Recovery JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Recovery JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

The Lowell Police Department (LPD) will utilize FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG funding to implement the Lowell Officer Recovery Initiative (LORI). The LPD will fund seven sworn positions for three years. These officers will be responsible for performing traditional police duties, such as patrolling the city and responding to calls for service. Additionally, they will each work to achieve the LPD goals which include furthering the community policing mission, developing positive relationships with youth, reducing gang and gun crime, deterring domestic violence, and increasing traffic enforcement efforts. The LPD will also use funds to pay a portion of the Director of Research and Development's salary. This individual is essential to the daily operations of the police department and will be responsible for administering the Recovery Act funding and ensuring that the LORI is meeting all its goals and objectives, as well as the LPD's goal of retaining the current size of the sworn force to prevent crime and ensure community safety.

NCA/NCF