Operation First - Line Defense for Using Intelligence-Led Policing to Combat Narcotics Trafficking

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 1, the Tohono O'odham Nation will use its award to combat narcotic and human smuggling through intelligence-led policing. Activities will be conducted by the Tohono O'odham Nation's Police Department. The Tohono O'odham Nation spent $3.6 million from the Police Department's 2008 budget on border protection and activities that prevent trafficking. As this represents nearly half of their budget, the Nation reports that they have been unable to take other actions that would allow them to better serve residents. This includes purchasing items for surveillance and tracking, as well as hiring an Intelligence Analyst who will perform intelligence research, provide analytical support, and conduct clerical functions as needed.

This award will pay the salary and fringe benefits for hiring the Intelligence Analyst and will also be used to purchase computers, printers, night vision monoculars, thermal imaging cameras, and software for analyzing crime, intercepting, pin mapping, and integrating data from various platforms. The interceptor software will include certified course examinations, while the use of the pin mapping and intelligence integration software will be taught via workshops conducted under contracts.

Communications on the Nation's lands have been limited due to the inability to use encryption, restrictions on antennas, and limited radio coverage. For this reason, the Nation will also use this award to purchase radios and GPS location point technology, which will allow dispatch and other law enforcement agencies to isolate locations on reservation compounds that may lack an address. The items or services purchased under this award will be used for law enforcement activities of the Nation, such as conducting operations and surveillance, gathering intelligence, and sharing information with other law enforcement agencies.

CA/CF