Investigations Division to Combat Methamphetamine Production and Delivery

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, Decatur County will use the award to support the Decatur County Sheriff's Department (DCSD) in combating methamphetamine production and delivery. The DCSD will assign three dedicated officers to the new Investigative Division to: collect baseline data and reduce the number of property thefts to support the manufacturing of methamphetamine; reduce the number of thefts of anhydrous ammonia from rural farms and commercial distribution centers; reduce the amount of methamphetamine being trafficked and sold within Decatur County; increase operational effectiveness through the use of intelligence-led policing from the gathering and plotting of data to identify areas presenting best promise for return on the investment of resources; and increase the number of investigations initiated and the percent of investigations that lead to an arrest or conviction of offenders. Funds will also purchase vehicles, a K-9 officer, and equipment.

CA/CF