Auburn Police Department Receives $33,631 Justice Assistance Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Bob Lee, Police Chief
City of Auburn
253-931-3001

SEATTLE – September 6, 2011 - U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs granted more than $5 million to enhance law enforcement activities in Washington State. The awards will be used for critical needs identified by the individual communities, including targeted anti-gang activities, technology upgrades, training, support for officers in public schools, and victim’s services.

The largest single grant, $4.5 million, is designed to support multi-jurisdictional efforts to combat gang-related drug trafficking and violence. The funds help pay for task forces and prosecution that target violent offenders and criminal gangs. That award is to be administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce. An additional $544,750 goes directly to local police forces for a variety of needs.

“From the smallest police departments to our largest task forces, these funds make a difference – picking up costs of technology and training to keep our officers well equipped and ready to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “Whether it is for cameras in patrol cars, forensic equipment or training to recognize terrorist threats, these are carefully screened and important expenditures. At a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling to meet needs because of budget cuts, these additional funds will help fill some gaps.”

Communities receiving Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grants are:

• Auburn - $33,631 for community policing activities
• Bremerton - $37,724 to partially fund a community resource officer
• Burien - $23,082 for officer training
• Centralia - $12,153 for equipment for traffic control unit
• Federal Way - $41,311 for forensic equipment and training
• Kent - $66,460 for security cameras for police station and jail
• Lakewood - $67,346 for patrol car video systems
• Longview/ Cowlitz County - $16,794 for a school resource officer
• Lynnwood - $16,246 for forensic equipment and SWAT training
• Olympia - $16,414 for technology upgrades to video storage system
• Puyallup - $18,651 for firing range training system
• Renton - $36,753 to support training, crime prevention and victim services
• SeaTac - $18,988 for firearms training and terrorism related training courses
• Shoreline - $13,081 for radar units and portable breath testers
• Skagit County - $10,887 for victim services
• Thurston County - $36,795 technology upgrades
• Vancouver/Clark County - $115,197 for technology upgrades

The Byrne Grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988. Officer Byrne was just 22-years-old. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers this program, which allows state and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the justice system.

For additional information on Byrne grants, please contact the Office of Justice Programs at (202) 307-0703.

Contact for the U.A. Attorney’s Office, Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer: (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.gov.

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