WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has released grants totaling $242,391 to Iowa through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
“Rural and mid-size communities across the country have major problems with drug use and trafficking that are every bit as bad as in major urban areas. What they don’t often have is the resources to cope with those problems. The Byrne/JAG program is the primary federal assistance program for state and local law enforcement’s counter-drug activities,” Grassley said. “I’m glad that these funds will provide the necessary tools to our state and local partners to keep the heat on drug dealers and criminals.”
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system.
The funds will be distributed from the U.S. Department of Justice as shown below.
v Iowa City will receive a $13,955 grant and use the funds to help purchase three tasers with accessories and warranties as well as extend warranties for 21 tasers bought in 2007 for the Iowa City Police Department. The funds will also upgrade and install three MPH radar units and four breath tester units to replace older or nonfunctioning units for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
v Linn County will receive a $26,323 grant and use the funds for law enforcement purposes for Linn County and Cedar Rapids law enforcement that have been displaced due to severe flooding and are working out of new offices with limited equipment.
v Scott County will receive a $79,785 grant and use the funds to help pay for the salary and fringe benefit costs for four officers from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Davenport Police Department assigned to the Quad City metropolitan Enforcement Group Hotel/Motel Interdiction Unit.
v Waterloo will receive a $22,840 grant and use the funds to help support a full-time prosecutor from the Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office to prosecute drug-related crimes in Black Hawk County.
v Webster County will receive a $10,053 grant and use the funds to help purchase a SERT Vehicle for the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office to be used for drug busts, hostage situations, barricaded situations and other especially dangerous law enforcement activities.
