Purchase of armored vehicle for Police Emergency Response Team.

The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.

The township of Exeter will use grant funds to purchase a multi-jurisdictional Special Response Vehicle (Armored) for the Berks County Emergency Response Team (BCERT) that covers Berks County and the city Reading, Pennsylvania. Currently, the Berks County Emergency Response Team is called upon to respond to a variety of situations, all of them having life threatening potential. They have responded to situations in neighboring jurisdictions that do not have fully functioning police departments or full-service SWAT teams and are particularly dependent on the Berks County Emergency Response Team for response to emergencies. Their response is paramount in effecting resolutions before the incident spirals out of control. The Berks County Emergency Response Team lack a vehicle to enhance their response capabilities in a protected manner for the transport of personnel and equipment to barricaded, suicidal and hostage situations, high risk warrants, high risk arrests and officer/citizen down rescues. Currently the teams respond in department vehicles, which are general-purpose vehicles without ballistic protection and blast mitigation armor. They offer no protection for personnel against explosions, projectiles, or any other hazard that may be found at such a site. Personnel who have the expertise to resolve or effectively deal with the dangerous scenarios are put at the greatest risk. The armored vehicle will be used in several roles at any incident site: as a protective/covered command post, mobile command unit, transport to and from bomb zones, hazmat hot zones, hazmat incidents, negotiators unit, rescue unit for citizens and law-enforcement personnel from the site, and use and in the deployment of less lethal munitions.

NCA/NCF