The Lowell Civilian Staff Hiring and Retention Initiative (LCSHRI)

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 4, the City of Lowell, will use the FY 2009 Recovery Act Byrne Competitive funds to support the Lowell Police Department (LPD) with the Lowell Civilian Staff Hiring and Retention Initiative. The goal of the project is to retain efficiency with the department by hiring additional staff. The City of Lowell will use funds to retain or hire 10 civilian personnel, which will enable LPD to maintain police presence on the streets of the city. With this funding, the LPD will retain a crime analyst in the Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit (CAIU), the Director of Research and Development, the Program Manager, and the Research Analyst in the Research and Development Unit. Furthermore, this funding will allow the department to hire a tracking analyst in CAIU and five booking and detention specialists who will be tasked with safely detaining and processing all arrestees in the City of Lowell.

CA/NCF