DOJ: North Alabama communities and law enforcement agencies awarded more than $7.25 million

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and Bureau of Justice Assistance recently awarded $7,256,829 to local communities and law enforcement agencies throughout northern Alabama for law enforcement technology and community policing initiatives.

“Local law enforcement and officers are the everyday superheroes in our communities, keeping us safe,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “I am grateful to the Department of Justice COPS Office and the Bureau of Justice Assistance for this much-needed assistance in ensuring the safety of our families and communities.”

The recently announced awards were made through the Department of Justice’s various grant programs listed below:

COPS Office Community Policing Development Program

• The National Association of School Resource Officers received $200,000 to train school resource officers

COPS Office Recruitment Program

• The city of Jacksonville received $125,000 to hire an additional officer
• The city of Pell City received $219,850 to hire two additional officers

COPS Office Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Program

• The city of Hartselle received $25,000

COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program

• The Winston County Board of Education received $499,598

COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program

• The Cullman County District Attorney’s Office (32nd District) received $110,000 to improve its computer technology and purchase a police vehicle
• The City of Fort Payne received $670,000 to improve its local communications and emergency response systems
• The Jackson County Commission received $250,000 for additional patrol vehicles
• Jacksonville State University received $656,000 to improve security and communications on campus
• The Limestone County Commission received $425,000 to improve security and surveillance at the county courthouse
• The Madison County Commission received $195,000 to improve security and surveillance at the county jail
• The City of Moody received $245,000 to improve local emergency communications systems
• The City of Oxford received $185,000 to improve crime-fighting resources linked to the East Alabama Metro Area Crime Center
• The City of Pell City received $612,000 to improve emergency communications systems with other local law enforcement and emergency agencies
• The Pickens County Emergency 911 Board received $1,805,000 to improve local emergency systems and communications services
• St. Clair County received $1,200,000 to develop a mobile command center to best prevent and respond to public safety threats and incidents

Bureau of Justice Assistance Body Worn Camera Program

• The Blount County Commission received $29,996
• The city of Montevallo received $4,385

The full list of COPS awards for fiscal year 2024 can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants. Information about Bureau of Justice Assistance grant awards can be found here: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/list.

For additional information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer at [email protected].