Freeport, NY - September 1, 2016 - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Kathleen Rice announced today that the Village of Freeport has been awarded $14,140 in federal U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Funding. The funds were awarded through the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which provides funding to states and local governments to support a range of crime prevention activities based on state and local needs. The Village of Freeport will use these funds to pay officer overtime for additional patrols. The goal of this project is to decrease factors that lower the quality of life for residents in the village.
“When it comes to protecting Village of Freeport residents, we must be smart and prepared,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment will help make our streets and neighborhoods safer for children, families and seniors. When it comes to protecting our citizens we must be prepared and well-trained, and this DOJ grant will help us do just that.”
“These federal funds will help support police officers who keep the Village of Freeport safe and secure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Protecting our families and communities is a top priority and I will continue to push for funding to help get our police officers the resources needed to carry out their critical work more effectively.”
“This funding will help the Village of Freeport put more trained police officers in the community, building relationships and working with residents to gather information, prevent crime, and address important quality of life concerns,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “I’m pleased we secured this funding for Freeport, and I’ll keep working to ensure all communities in our district have the resources they need to keep residents safe and secure.”
“Since becoming the first municipality in New York State to mandate body cameras on all police patrol officers and installing our “Ring of Steel’ license plate reader system, Freeport has an increased need to support the success of these initiatives,” said Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy. “By providing grant funding to contribute to our police overtime budget, we can increase patrols, without increasing village taxes. On behalf of the Freeport Board of Trustees, Freeport residents, and I, we thank U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Kathleen Rice for helping to ensure the safety and best quality of life for our community.”
The Byrne JAG program provides funding to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system that include: law enforcement programs; prosecution and court programs; prevention and education programs; corrections and community corrections programs; drug treatment programs; and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and crime victim witness programs.