Law Enforcement Equipment, Supplies and Programs

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 North Wildwood, serving as the fiscal agent for this award, will share the Recovery Act JAG funds with five disparate jurisdictions within Cape May County. In a disparate situation, the units of local government must apply for an award with a single, joint application. Each jurisdiction's allocation will be used for activities and projects that will provide meaningful and measurable outcomes consistent with the goals of the Recovery Act. The Sea Isle Police Department will purchase various styles of firearms, duty holsters, and magazine pouches in order to upgrade service weapons and maximize safety. The North Wildwood Police Department will acquire pocket citation devices to make serving traffic citations more efficient. The Lower Township Police Department will purchase various types of ammunition for service weapons and a new Dodge Charger fully-equipped police cruiser. The Middle Township Police Department plans to install a Downflow Workstation to assist detectives in analyzing latent prints as well as new desktop computers, DNA kits, digital cameras, portable radios, and the soundproofing of an interview room. The Wildwood Police Department will purchase Info-Cop E-Ticketing devices and software, along with a Freedom Call Check Recorder to record all radio and telephone transmissions. The Ocean City Police Department will use their share of funds to support community law enforcement efforts in the form of youth leadership programs, youth safety programs, community awards, Eddie the Eagle Program, and the law enforcement baseball card program.

NCA/NCF