Chester, PA -- With the constant need to ensure the safety and protection of the men and women who serve in the Chester Police Department, the city will be able to purchase new bulletproof vests for police officers from funds received through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance (JAG) program. In order to discuss just how critical federal funding is for local law enforcement departments, Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. hosted a discussion with U.S. Senator Bob Casey on Monday, March 21, 2011 at City Hall located at 1 Fourth Street, Chester, PA 19013.
“Over the past several years, the city has utilized JAG resources to fund police equipment and patrol vehicles, allowing the City to better protect and serve its citizens,” said Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. “Without a doubt, federal programs like JAG are critically important, as they greatly support our public safety efforts and provide funding that would not otherwise be available.”
“The cuts to local law enforcement agencies passed by the U.S. House will lead to reduced federal support for these essential services in communities like Chester,” said Senator Casey. “This funding supports the men and women who work tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe and helps to ensure that local budgets are not further strained. That is why I have been fighting law enforcement cuts in Congress.”
Designed to allow individual law enforcement departments to determine how best to use the funds, the JAG program can be tailored to fit the various needs and diverse purposes that face urban communities like the City of Chester. Since 2009, the city has received more than $850,000 in JAG funding which supports a broad range of law enforcement activities that work to better control and prevent crime overall.
Through JAG funds the city has been able to improve the Chester Police Department’s internal technologies with the purchase of a new server and desktop computers. Also funded through the JAG program, the city has been able to bolster its vehicle patrol units with the purchase of new police cruisers. As for equipment, the city also purchased portable police radios and equipment for wireless cameras. JAG funds will fund the purchase of forensic video enhancement system which provides increased detection of suspects caught on video, images or audio.
Federal funds received from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program are being utilized by the city to strengthen its police force. To ensure the police department is appropriately responsive to the ever changing demands of the city, 5 new officers were recently sworn into the force.
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