Purchase Emergency Services vehicle, & firearms.

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 town of Hamden will utilize Recovery Act JAG funds to purchase a new emergency services unit transport vehicle and firearms for the town police department. The police department will use the vehicle to support and transport the emergency services unit personnel and their equipment to address crisis situations such as barricaded subjects; high-risk arrest, search, and warrant executions; terrorist responses; and other emergency situations. The acquisition of the vehicle will also allow the police department to assist neighboring cities and towns during crisis situations. The town will also purchase new firearms and holsters for all police officers and 15 specialty rifles for emergency services unit personnel. The firearms currently used by officers are more than 15 years old and in need of replacement. The police department coordinates with the New Haven region and federal agencies in an effort to apprehend subjects and increase overall law enforcement collaboration efforts. The police department currently assigns personnel to the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force in the New Haven region.

NCA/NCF