Officer Safety and Subject Location 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 program 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 through the Fiscal Year 2014 JAG Program for officer safety and subject location enhancement. The Asheville Police Department will use funds to purchase in-car video cameras for patrol cars, which will be equipped to interface with existing equipment for wireless upload. This technology will provide secure video of officer interactions on patrol, increase the evidentiary video for criminal investigation as well as internal investigations, and increase public confidence by holding officers accountable during emergency situations. The Buncombe Sheriff's Office will use their portion of the funds to purchase Thermal Night Vision equipment, which will supplement the agency's night vision capabilities. This technology will allow the Sheriff's Office to gather intelligence during crisis incidents, locate suspects during an investigation, and locate endangered persons. Deployment of this equipment will enhance officer safety when attempting to apprehend dangerous subjects and provide another means to locate individuals who may be lost or endangered after dark. NCA/NCF