Community Enhancement Team 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 city of Torrington, through its Police Department, will utilize the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award for the Community Enhancement Team (CET) Project. The funds will support overtime for CET project implementation and equipment purchases. The project is a city-wide effort, led by the Torrington Police Department to reduce petty crimes and improve residents' quality of life. Petty crime in the city of Torrington peaks during summer months, amking it the most effective time to deploy additional human resources. The first CET project component will be funding overtime for CET members. The CET staffing will be one sergeant and two patrol officers, with the CET working eight-hour shifts during the summer months to improve quality of life and safety issues. The CET will respond to calls for service during daylight and nighttime hours in an effort to identify community concerns and seek out unique approaches to solving neighborhood concerns. The CET Team will allow police officers to build consistent long-term credibility and partnerships with the targeted neighborhoods.

The second CET project component will be long-term investments in equipment and technology that will enhance the Department's ability to fight crime. Equipment including tasers, vests, and holsters. The equipment purchased will improve the participating police officers' effectiveness.

NCA/NCF