Rural Law Enforcement Investigations

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: (1) combat rural crime; (2) improve rural law enforcement investigations; (3) enhance rural detention and jail operations; (4) facilitate rural justice information sharing; or (5) develop a national training and technical assistance program.

Under Category 2, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will receive $562,203 to improve efficiency and effectiveness of community policing and drug investigation duties through hiring and training new staff. The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will use the funds to re-hire a Community Service Officer to assume responsibility of responding to otherwise low-priority calls for assistance, hire an additional Investigator for the Menominee Tribe Police Department (MTPD) and provide full certification training for this position, and hire a Budget Specialist to assist MTPD to most effectively utilize all grant funds managed by the department to include data collection and reporting requirements. Menominee Indian Tribe Of Wisconsin will utilize the 2009 Rural Law Enforcement grant funds to improve efficiency and effectiveness of community policing and drug investigation duties through hiring and training new staff. Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Police Department will re-hire a community service officer to handle civil complaints and low priority calls for assistance; and will hire an investigator to enhance the investigation of crimes and a budget analyst to maximize effectiveness of grant funding and to collect data and complete grant reporting requirements. The tribe will also utilize funding for training, to purchase office equipment and supplies, and to support their Wellness Court by providing incentives, urinalysis kits, and assessments.

CA/NCF