NEW MADRID -- The latest round of Local Law Enforcement Block Grant/JAG program awards will help local agencies with officer protection items and communications.
In a recent press release, Gov. Matt Blunt announced $490,562 in funding was awarded to law enforcement agencies in the state through the 2009 LLEBG/JAG program.
"I have pledged to help reduce crime and improve safety in Missouri and these awards for basic equipment such as communications systems will provide a significant boost to the safety of officers and the public they serve," Blunt said in the news release.
Listed among the local law enforcement agencies approved for LLEBG/JAG program funding this round are the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department, the New Madrid Police Department and the Chaffee Police Department.
The New Madrid County Sheriff's Department will receive $8,685 in federal funding.
"We're going to replace all of our bulletproof vests for our road officers," said Terry Stevens, New Madrid County sheriff. "Our vests are probably seven or eight years old so we are going to replenish all of those. Including myself, there are 10 officers altogether."
A maximum of $9,000 in federal funding can be awarded through the program. A local cash match of 10 percent is required.
Stevens said his department may end up putting even more money toward the purchase depending on the cost of the vests. "I haven't got any bids or prices yet," he said.
Without the grant, however, Stevens said they wouldn't have been able to replace the vests yet "just due to budget constraints."
"I'm just thankful for it," he said. "It's going to supply my officers with some much needed equipment that is very essential in today's social climate."
Jim Chambers, police chief for the Chaffee Police Department, said his LLEBG/JAG grant of $6,227 is for communications equipment.
"The grant specified the purchase of hand-held radios and a mobile car radio," Chamber said. "It's one of our major needs here in town -- our radio equipment for the officers in the cars. We would not have been able to do that without the availability of the grant money."
Asked about the importance of being awarded the grant, Chambers said that "any time we upgrade our radio equipment, it's significant."
"We've got another grant request in for additional radio equipment for a repeater system that would boost up our radio coverage," he added.
Chambers said he hasn't been informed of when they can expect to receive the grant money so they can purchase the equipment. "I figure it will probably be after the first of the year," he said.
The New Madrid Police Department Protect will also receive $773.90 in LLEBG/JAG funding. City Marshal Claude McFerren and Capt. Chris Henry, who wrote the grant application, were not available as of press time to discuss what their department's officer protection grant award will go toward specifically.
The LLEBG/JAG program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Missouri is awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program which replaced previous programs to create a single funding mechanism to simplify the administration process for those receiving the grants.