Drug Eradication 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 2, Allen County, along with the Allen County Sheriff's Department (ACSD), will use its award to support a Drug Eradication Program. The goals of the program are to reduce drug-related crime in the county by increasing and improving law enforcement investigations and increasing prevention efforts. ACSD will hire a drug eradication detective, drug eradication deputy, and a project director. The director will work with ACSD and the county to increase collaboration between local law enforcement and the community at-large. Funds will purchase police vehicles for use in remote areas of the county. The vehicles will include two ATVs and two 4X4 trucks, which will be used for remote parts of the county to assist with enhancing drug investigations.

ACSD will also increase community policing efforts including eight Neighborhood Watch Programs, resulting in a 50 percent increase in the number of drug investigations. The project director will also be in charge of overseeing project community involvement with faith communities, fire departments, schools, media, community coalitions, and community organizations.

CA/CF