Law Enforcement Assistance Program (L.E.A.P.)

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 Kentucky State Police, in conjunction with the Special Enforcement Troop, will use the grant award to create 24 civilian positions in 16 different regions. Twenty of the civilian positions will work closely with sworn law enforcement to provide preliminary crime analysis, which will help free sworn-in officers' time to remain on the street to investigate crimes and prevent others from occurring. Two Internal Policy Analyst (IPA) civilian positions will be created to administer the grant funds in accordance with the proposed timeline. They will be responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability within the agency's expenditures specific to the Recovery Act. One civilian IPA II will provide accurate analysis of policy and budgetary issues to post-level commanders and prepare statewide Law Enforcement Analysis Portal reports for the Division of Operations. The other civilian IPA III will research law enforcement programs and develop operating policies and procedures in support of law enforcement initiatives.

CA/NCF