Ellington Drug and Crime Investigations Capability Implementation Program

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) solicits applications for initiatives which assist law enforcement in rural states and rural areas. The program helps rural states and rural areas to prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs.

The Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program, administered by BJA, helps rural states and rural areas prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs. In addition, priority consideration will be given to local law enforcement agencies in rural areas where the unit of local government is not eligible to receive a direct allocation from the Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program or received a direct allocation that was $50,000 or less. Applicants were invited to submit a proposal under any one of the following categories to: combat rural crime; improve rural law enforcement investigations; enhance rural detention and jail operations; facilitate rural justice information sharing; or develop a national training and technical assistance program.

Under Category 1, the city of Ellington will use its award to implement the Drug and Crime Investigations Capability Implementation Program at the Ellington Police Department (EPD). The goal of the program is to implement an effective and sustainable investigative capability within EPD, to reduce drug-related crime, and to increase felony and drug-related crime cases solve rates. An investigator will be hired and will receive specialized training. A special evidence collection vehicle and other investigative equipment will be purchased for the investigator's use. The investigator will coordinate with the Reynolds County Sheriff's Department and other area law enforcement agencies, the city and county prosecutor, the victims' advocate, and community services to include addiction treatment services.

CA/NCF