Countywide Law Enforcement Initiative

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.

In the disparate jurisdiction of the county of Sussex, the municipalities of Bridgeville, Dewey Beach, Georgetown, Laurel, Milford, Millsboro, Milton, Rehoboth Beach, and Seaford will share the 2009 Recovery Act JAG grant in the amount of $464,605, with the Georgetown Police Department serving as the applicant and fiscal agent. The municipalities will use their grant funds to boost each police department's crime control and prevention strategies. The Dewey Beach Police Department ($21,601) will hire two seasonal police officers and a part-time dispatcher. The Rehoboth ($16,674), Bridgeville ($18,948), Milton ($18,190) and Milford ($103,456) Police Departments will purchase computers, communications, and other equipment. The Seaford Police Department ($86,403) will purchase a cruiser, computers, tasers, and communications equipment. The Millsboro ($26,527), Laurel ($68,592) and Georgetown ($104,214) Police Departments will use their share of the funds to refurbish and purchase cruisers. The decision by the municipalities to use the grant funds in this way reflects their commitment to ensuring the health, safety and protection of its citizens by having well trained, equipped, and prepared law enforcement agencies. The Georgetown Police Department will issue thorough, comprehensive written progress and fiscal reports on a quarterly schedule to keep all interested parties apprised of the efforts of moving forward toward the goal of reducing crime and violence in the county of Sussex.

NCA/NCF