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Law Enforcement Equipment

Award Information

Award #
2009-SB-B9-2079
Location
Awardee County
Andrews
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2009
Total funding (to date)
$19,034

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $19,034)

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 Andrews and Andrews County are disparate jurisdictions. The two jurisdictions will share the joint allocation amount of $19,034 under the Recovery Act JAG program. The city of Andrews is responsible for administering the funds.

The JAG funding will be used to purchase equipment. The city of Andrews Police Department will purchase electronic surveillance equipment and hard wire thermal imagining units that will be installed in two police vehicles. Officers of the city of Andrews are often called upon to search for missing individuals and suspects after dark and in other low-visibility situations. The hard wired thermal imaging units will be placed in police vehicles that are on the streets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The police department will also purchase a body microphone, and officers conducting covert surveillance and narcotics investigations will utilize this equipment to record conversations when using undercover officers or confidential informants.

Andrews County Sheriff's Office will purchase one mobile radio for use by a deputy. The State of Texas and the local council of governments have set guidelines to enhance communication between responders in emergency situations by providing commonly used mutual-aid frequencies.

The JAG funds will improve the security of the city, enhance the communications of county, and provide better service for the citizens.

NCA/NCF

Date Created: July 29, 2009