Officer Safety Enhancement

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 city of Asheville and Buncombe County have been identified as disparate and have agreed to share the aggregate of funds allocated to them for their Officer Safety Enhancement Program and Crisis Intervention Incident Management Project. The Asheville Police Department will use funds to increase the number of in-car video systems in patrol cars. The project will provide secure video evidence of officer interactions during patrols, increase evidentiary video which will aid in court prosecution of criminal cases as well as internal investigations, and increase public confidence through recording officers' interactions with the public. The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office will use funds to purchase a portable surveillance robot, camera equipment, and tasers. The proposed equipment will provide increased intelligence gathering during crisis incidents, enhance the responders' ability to positively identify persons and materials, increase the knowledge and skills of staff, and enhance responders' ability to bring crisis situations to a successful and positive end through less lethal use of force options.
NCA/NCF