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Federal Grants To Help Bring Brick Safety Initiatives
By Catherine Snipe
Broken locks? Dark alleys? Other equipment essential for security lacking? The federal government has some cash that could help Brick Township fix such lingering problems, $80,000 in all, intended to bring lighting, new locks and other measures to help deter crime around town.
The township also won a second grant, this one for $98,000 specifically targeting technology, pegging the total grant money at $178,000.
Brick Township Council will welcome the grants from the federal government this week, with programs concentrated on public safety.
Brick's good fortune comes as part of a wider federal grant program. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) gave a total $14.8 million in grants to 174 local law enforcement agencies to enhance school safety in 38 states. The grants were awarded under COPS Secure Our Schools program, which supports local efforts to improve security in schools and on school grounds.
"Creating the safest possible learning environment is a responsibility that is shared by law enforcement, educators, students, and the community," said COPS Director Carl R. Peed in a prepared statement. "Today's grants enable local law enforcement agencies and school districts to work together to implement much needed safety enhancements. We are pleased to assist with local school safety initiatives."
The $80,000 grant award was announced September 8, and the township is scheduled to approve adding the funds to its budget during its upcoming township council meeting.
The "Secure Our Schools" grant can provide up to 50 percent of the total cost for municipalities to install locks, lighting and other equipment that can help deter crime, or to cover 50 percent of the cost of security assessments and training, according to the office administering the grant.
Last year, Brick won the grant as well, receiving $39,475. That year, the New Jersey towns won $2.5 million in grants.
Although Brick's grant is increasing, on the whole, the funding for the program is less than last year, with 66 percent less funding nationwide than the previous year.
The second funding program from COPS focusing on technology will also net $98,723 for the township.
The COPS Technology Grant focuses not just on deterring crime, but on providing police force with technology to solve
crime.
The federal office states the grant provides "funding for the continued development of technologies and automated systems that help law enforcement agencies prevent, respond to, and investigate crime."
That means buying communications interoperability, information sharing, crime analysis and intelligence gathering.
Under the federal grant program, New Jersey towns received a combined $1.46 million in this funding, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the grant. The awards ranged from Teaneck's $251,921 to Ridgefield's $14,975.
The federal government gave the grant money to 20 New Jersey towns, more than any other state.
However, the raw dollars New Jersey received is not the most of any state. California got the most money, with more than $2 million in COPS grants.
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