Governor Brian Kemp announced Thursday the award of more than $83.5 million in community public safety grant awards, with portions of that funding going toward several public safety agencies in northeast Georgia.
According to a press release from Kemp's office, the funds will go toward 118 qualified projects that aim to improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges.
"Public safety has always been a top priority of my administration and will continue to be," said Governor Brian Kemp. "With the increase in violent crime seen in communities across the country, including here in our state, we're sending reinforcements to keep hardworking Georgians and their neighborhoods safe. From tackling staffing needs to deploying new equipment and technology, these funds are being invested so that our brave first responders have the resources they need to fight back against dangerous criminals."
Awards in northeast Georgia include the following:
- Athens-Clarke County Police Department ($1,650,000) - Funds will be used to enhance recruitment incentives for current employees and enhance hiring incentives for applicants
- Barrow County Sheriff's Office ($104,031) - Funds will be used to acquire a Leica Geosystems Scene Scan Unit as well as to acquire new law enforcement-grade technology
- Commerce Police Department ($79,310) - Funds will be used to implement 21st-century policing intelligence-led strategies to reduce crime and enhance the community's quality of life.
- Forsyth County ($832,960) - Funds will be used to form additional Critical Incident Response Teams to reduce the number of people with mental illness booked into the detention center
- Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners ($1,525,409) - Funds will be used to purchase equipment and technology for the Situational Awareness and Response Center to provide intelligence and better inform responding officers
- Lawrenceville Police Department ($725,102) - Funds will be used for upgrades to software and hardware
- Stephens County Sheriff's Office ($1,185,156) - Funds will be used to provide more deputies on the street and more jailers to help reduce strain on the current staff
"I commend Governor Kemp and the Administration for their continued efforts to ensure that ARPA funding is allocated properly throughout Georgia," said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. "I will always support funding like these grants which enable our law enforcement agencies to invest in resources, staffing and infrastructure. I look forward to building on these investments in the future and always supporting our law enforcement heroes."
“Under Governor Kemp’s leadership, Georgia has demonstrated time and time again our commitment to public safety and our unwavering support of the brave men and women who wear the badge,” said Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns. “Today’s grant announcement is further evidence of that continuing commitment. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Jones, Attorney General Carr, and my colleagues in the General Assembly in working together to keep Georgia a safe place to live, work and raise a family.”
