[July 15, 2011] Law enforcers receive $30,000 grant Tweet Jul 15, 2011 (St. Joseph News-Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- With an extra $30,000, the St. Joseph Police Department is planning to add new and improved equipment to its arsenal. The amount was awarded through the annual Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, funded by the Department of Justice and given to departments based on their annual Part 1 crimes and population. The Police Department and its "sister agency," the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department and prosecutor's office, have been receiving the grant for the last 15 years. "Here in Buchanan County we have a unique situation, because almost all of those very serious crimes are investigated by the St. Joseph Police Department, but are prosecuted by the county, so we have to apply together," said Sgt. Larry Stobbs, grant coordinator. Ten percent of the grant ($3,000) will go to the Sheriff's Department, which is planning on buying a rescue boat with the funds. Sheriff Mike Strong said the department is awaiting approval from the county commissioners before the purchase, but is hoping to hear within the next week in order to help with flood relief and rescue. "We are going to be in a sustained operation at least until the first of the year, so we saw a need for it," Mr. Strong said. "And if we have other incidents, we would just like to be prepared." The rest of the funds will be divided up throughout the department: Two Tasers for $2,200; three radar guns for $1,800; four in-vehicle video cameras for $18,000; and $5,000 will go toward new desktop computers. The biggest purchase, for the in-vehicle cameras, are part of an ongoing project to update every marked fleet car with the latest in wireless, automated technology. The cameras, which are used to investigate officer-involved traffic crashes or disturbances, are in half of the police cars. Four cameras are on order from money left over in last year's budget, and four more will be purchased when the grant money is received. Mr. Stobbs said all new cars purchased in the future will already have the cameras installed in them. "They're really important, because that video might be the only witness in a tragic accident," Mr. Stobbs said. The grant money is divided up between departments based on priority and immediate need. Kim Norvell can be reached at [email protected]. To see more of the St. Joseph News-Press or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.stjoenews-press.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, St. Joseph News-Press, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]