Ivey awards equipment grants for North Alabama law enforcement agencies

MONTGOMERY — More than a half dozen law enforcement agencies in North Alabama will share grants from the U.S. Department of Justice.

A total of $297,000 in funds will allow law enforcement offices in six North Alabama municipalities and one county to purchase equipment to better serve their communities, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.

“Our law enforcement officers often put their lives on the line to protect and serve residents in their jurisdictions,” Ivey said. “These grants will provide police officers and sheriff’s deputies with the tools they need to carry out their duties more safely and efficiently.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the Justice Department.

“Through these grants, law enforcement officers can direct resources to the needs they deem most essential for enhancing public safety,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in this important program that provides needed equipment to these departments.”

Those receiving funds are:

• Arley – $17,385 to upgrade a communications system that will benefit the Arley Police Department and other law enforcement offices in Winston County.
• Ashland – $49,572 to purchase firearms and stun guns for the Ashland Police Department.
• Jacksonville – $42,776 to acquire portable radios and in-car computers for the Jacksonville Police Department.
• Marion County – $50,000 to enable the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to purchase stun guns aimed at de-escalating dangerous situations and preventing injuries to both suspects and deputies.
• Odenville – $45,895 to purchase equipment that will help the Odenville Police Department to accurately reconstruct vehicle crash scenes.
• Sylacauga – $50,000 to allow the Sylacauga Police Department to purchase stun guns to deter unruly suspect and prevent major injuries to the suspect and police officers.
• Sylvania – $41,095 to purchase firearms, bullet-proof vests and radios for the Sylvania Police Department.

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.