Officer and Civilian Safety Program

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 disparate jurisdictions comprising of the cities of De Witt and Stuttgart and Arkansas County will use their Recovery Act JAG funds to support the police and sheriff departments with law enforcement equipment enhancements. The DeWitt Police Department will purchase LED light bars, sirens, siren speakers with brackets, switch boxers, partition cages, seat protectors, and consoles. The city of Stuttgart will purchase a ballistic shield and 10 tasers with extended warranties and accessories for the city police department. Arkansas County, serving as the fiscal agent for this grant, will purchase ballistic vests, tactical vest carriers, ballistic shields, and ammunition for the sheriff's department. The projects will increase officer safety and assist the officers to serve the general public more efficiently.

NCA/NCF