Boston Police Department Hiring of Civilian Law Enforcement Personnel

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 Boston, in conjunction with Boston Police Department, will use the grant award to increase the capacity and efficiency of sworn officers on the street to respond to and investigate crimes, maintain law enforcement critical functioning, and reduce violent crime throughout the city. To accomplish these goals, the grant funds will be used to hire personnel for the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), the Office of Research and Development, the Multi Media Unit, and the Bureau of Standards and Development. The remaining funds will go towards travel and supplies, which include desktop computers with software. BRIC will receive three Real-Time Crime Center Intelligence Analysts and two Social Network Analysis Intelligence Analysts. A Real-Time Crime Center Intelligence Analyst receives, reviews, analyzes, and disseminates information on incoming investigative requests from field personnel during and after significant criminal incidents. A Social Network Analyst reviews all-source information and conducts research and analysis on criminal and rogue organizations and networks or other suspect networks in order to devise strategies to dismantle these networks through the use of appropriate law enforcement and intelligence community authorities. The Office of Research and Development will hire two Research Analysts, who will prepare monthly crime reports and annual summary reports in accordance with Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines. The Multi Media Unit will hire two Compositors to assist the Boston Police Academy with all training materials for in-service sworn personnel and new recruits. They will also design and produce high-quality informational and outreach materials for all areas of the Boston Police Department and will provide courtroom documentation and prosecutorial support in investigations. The Bureau of Standards and Development will hire one Distance Learning Director, who will assist the instructors who teach at the academy to format their teaching materials for availability online.

CA/NCF