Orange County, New York Police Dispatching and Communications Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The disparate jurisdictions consisting of the Orange County and the cities of Middletown and Newburgh will use the FY 2010 JAG award in the amount of $78,683 to fund overtime and purchase law enforcement-related equipment. Orange County, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $35,163 to purchase and install automatic vehicle locators (AVL) dispatching systems in 300 patrol cars to heighten both the situational awareness and the ability to respond during emergency situations by permitting the county's 911 center to determine the closest available officer to respond to a 911 call. Middletown City will use $30,500 towards a Crime Scene Unit vehicle, additional police patrols for crime suppression via overtime, and a police ID card system. Newburgh City will use $13,020 to cover an estimated 270 hours of overtime patrols targeting quality of life offenses and narcotics related activities.

NCA/NCF