Muskegon River Joint Public Safety Project

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 City of Newaygo, in conjunction with the Newaygo Police Department and Newaygo County Sheriff's Office, will combat crime on the Muskegon River. Newaygo County is bisected by the Muskegon River, which provides many recreational activities for the community and tourists. The Newaygo Police Department lacks the funding and personnel to police the river, which means a good deal of crime that occurs on or near the river goes unchecked. Funds from this grant would be used to implement river policing on the Muskegon River. Specifically, funds will be used to pay salaries and overtime for four officers within the police department and sheriff's office, and also to purchase two patrol boats. The goals of the project are to protect the environment and to keep the Muskegon River waterway safe by reducing crime.

CA/CF