Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $105,065)
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 town of LaCrosse, along with the LaCrosse Police Department (LPD), will use the award to intercept and stop drugs and contraband that flow through the town. Drug traffickers who operate in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk area must pass through LaCrosse. The LPD will form an Interdiction Unit and hire an officer who will specialize in the investigation and interdiction of drug and contraband trafficking. The officer will collaborate with the nearby South Hill Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to provide intelligence on illegal drugs and contraband in the area. The grant's success will be measured by the number of new investigations initiated (including the number of vehicle searches and any use of police K-9s), and the number of arrests, seizures, and convictions. The funds will support the salaries and benefits for the one position, purchase a Panasonic mobile data terminal system, including ruggedized laptop computer, mounts, power supply, docking station and modem, and pay the costs of attending interdiction trainings and mandatory grant training.
CA/CF