From Congressman Jim Himes:
Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that the cities of Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk would receive a total of $200,000 from the Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program.
“I’m thrilled that Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk will receive funding for their local police departments. From increasing patrols to expanding mental health services, these grants will make our communities safer and ensure our police officers have the proper tools and training necessary to successfully carry out their duties,” said Congressman Himes.
“On behalf of the City of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Police Department, I would like to thank Congressman Jim Himes and his staff for helping us to secure this funding through these various JAG Grants. This funding will allow us to enhance and improve our services to the citizens of the City of Bridgeport, CT,” said Bridgeport Chief of Police Roderick Porter
“The Stamford Police Department will utilize this grant by having our Police Officers attend First Responder Training on how better to deal with Veterans in Crisis. It is estimated that 16.8 Veterans commit suicide daily. Many Veterans are in crisis, silently suffering with post deployment issues. This training will assist our Police Officers in identifying the signs of suicide and strategies for prevention. As Police Officers come into daily contact with Veterans, it is important that we are trained in the best practices to safely and successfully handle the needs of this special population,” said Stamford Chief of Police Timothy Shaw
“The awarding of JAG and DOJ grants has provided the Norwalk Police Department with increased technology in the area of license plate readers to deter car theft and car burglary in Norwalk regions that have seen an increase in property crimes since COVID. DOJ grants have also allowed the department to multiply our Social Services in our Behavioral health unit by adding a second full-time social worker to our unit to provide a cadre of social services and outreach. Awarding these grants with the assistance of Congressman Himes has bolstered public safety, lowered crime, and allowed us to provide more social work resources to the residents of Norwalk,” said Norwalk Chief of Police James Walsh.
The award includes:
- $132,157 for the City of Bridgeport to purchase equipment to improve the Bridgeport Police Department’s ability to de-escalate dangerous situations and better protect residents, visitors, and police officers.
- $48,554 for the City of Stamford to cover partial overtime costs associated with frontline police officers attending specialized training conducted by the U.S. Veterans Administration on identifying and working with veterans experiencing mental health issues during service calls.
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$18,047 for the City of Norwalk to pay overtime to increase patrols, improve safety and security, and reduce crime at locations such as houses of worship, election sites, and schools. JAG funds will also be used to purchase audio-visual-GPS-enabled monitoring equipment to be used in undercover and covert organized crime and narcotics investigations, as well as two new laser devices for speed enforcement and a speed feedback sign.
