FY 2009 Recovery Act Rural Law Enforcement 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: (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 I, the city of Warrenton will support personnel and fringe benefits costs for two newly hired police officers. In the past five years, calls for service have increased by more than 50 percent, while the size of the city police department has only grown by 40 percent within the same time period. The increases in crime have resulted in officers completing more reports and investigating incidents instead of conducting pro-active patrols resulting in fewer per-capita drug and DWI offenders. The additional manpower funded through the Recovery Act grant is essential in ending this cycle. In addition to the newly hired officers, the grant will fund a patrol cruiser and radios. In an effort to stimulate the economy, it is anticipated the hiring process will begin within 60-days upon receipt of the grant, and the new vehicle will be purchased from an American manufacturer.

CA/CF