Local agencies receive $97K
LAKE COUNTY — A total of $97,414 in Recovery Act grant money was allocated to three different law enforcement agencies in Lake County.
The funds are appropriated under the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and distributed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Justice Assistance Grant program. JAG, formerly known as the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, aims to allow states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime while improving the criminal justice system
The funds are allocated through a formula based on population and crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share. The state of Montana received $4,972,500 from the program in 2009. The three local agencies were selected out of a list of 55 law enforcement agencies statewide.
Of the local agencies, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received the largest piece of the pie — a $57,224 chunk from JAG.
The grant funds, which the sheriff’s office applies for on a regular annual basis, will be used to purchase items including: 14 tasers and 50 taser cartridges, two cameras for the jail, 10 digital cameras for evidence, 25 reflective vests, six road spike strips, four computers, three handguns, three assault rifles, five 12-gauge shotguns, ammunition, two in-car video systems, a transport van barrier and camera system, four portable breath testers, and five tactical headsets for the SWAT team.
The equipment is intended to give the officers and civilian employees both more versatility and efficiency in responding to emergencies, being as fully equipped as possible. Sheriff Lucky Larson said that the extra taser equipment acquired with the grant money now ensures that all of his officers will have the “less-lethal” method of apprehending threats at their disposal.
“We’re absolutely very happy to have received this grant money from the feds — it’s a big help,” Larson said.
Next in line, the Polson Police Department secured $23,954 from a JAG grant.
The list of items to be purchased with the money includes items such as: Seven rifles, two shotguns, two handguns, two tasers and 10 cases of cartridges, a radar unit, ammunition, and two video cameras.
At the May 4 Polson city council meeting, Chief Doug Chase reported that his department was eager to receive the extra funding by late July or early August.
“This is equipment that is needed, yet the funds are often hard to come by,” Chase said.
The Ronan Police Department also looks to be the recipient of some JAG money, to the tune of $16,236. Assistant Chief Art Walgren said the department is considering using the grant money to purchase computer equipment to transform several of their patrol cars to the highway patrol outfit, allowing officers to digitally run licenses and check for warrants from their vehicles.
Walgren said that the computer technology runs about $7,500 per vehicle so the grant money will only cover two cars while the department already has two more laptops they plan to use to outfit two more patrol vehicles. The department currently has eight vehicles total in their fleet.
“You get a little bit [of funding] from here and a little bit from there and it all adds up,” Walgren added.
Leader editor Jenna Cederberg contributed to the reporting in this story.