Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Justice Cabinet Awards Grants To Assist Law Enforcement
The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet today announced the award of 48 federal and state grants totaling nearly $3.1 million to police departments, sheriff’s departments and other criminal justice agencies. The grant money will help police officers and criminal justice professionals protect families against drunken driving, drugs and other crimes.
“The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is committed to helping local law enforcement across Kentucky,” said Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown. “This money will assist officers as they perform the duties necessary to keep their communities safe.”
In all, 26 Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants were awarded. This federal money will help law enforcement agencies, drug task forces and other criminal justice programs stop the spread of drugs and improve the quality of life in Kentucky communities.
This year’s award decisions were particularly difficult due to recent reductions in federal funds, according to Tanya Dickinson, Branch Manager for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grants Management branch. In order to maintain ongoing program services – particularly the state’s regional Drug Task Forces – the Cabinet had to supplement the FY2008 Justice Assistance Grant funds with one-time money from the Cabinet and de-obligated, old year federal grant funds, Dickinson said. She added that the competitive environment meant the Cabinet had to decline to fund many worthy proposals.
In addition, 22 grants were awarded through the Law Enforcement Service Fee program. This state money will help officers target drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“Law enforcement officers witness firsthand how illegal drugs can devastate entire communities,” Brown said. “This grant money will help officers defend innocent children and protect neighborhoods against drugs.”
“The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is committed to helping local law enforcement across Kentucky,” said Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown. “This money will assist officers as they perform the duties necessary to keep their communities safe.”
In all, 26 Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants were awarded. This federal money will help law enforcement agencies, drug task forces and other criminal justice programs stop the spread of drugs and improve the quality of life in Kentucky communities.
This year’s award decisions were particularly difficult due to recent reductions in federal funds, according to Tanya Dickinson, Branch Manager for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grants Management branch. In order to maintain ongoing program services – particularly the state’s regional Drug Task Forces – the Cabinet had to supplement the FY2008 Justice Assistance Grant funds with one-time money from the Cabinet and de-obligated, old year federal grant funds, Dickinson said. She added that the competitive environment meant the Cabinet had to decline to fund many worthy proposals.
In addition, 22 grants were awarded through the Law Enforcement Service Fee program. This state money will help officers target drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“Law enforcement officers witness firsthand how illegal drugs can devastate entire communities,” Brown said. “This grant money will help officers defend innocent children and protect neighborhoods against drugs.”
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 6:24 PM 
