For Immediate Release: 7/26/2012 1:23 pm
Worcester, MA (July 26, 2012) - U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $151,460 to the City of Worcester.
The funding announced today is through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. JAG program funds can be used for a variety of efforts such as hiring law enforcement officers, supporting drug and gang task forces, funding crime prevention and domestic violence programs, and supporting courts, corrections, treatment and justice information sharing initiatives. The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics.
Worcester will primarily use the funding to maintain police presence in key neighborhoods.
"Cities and towns are facing extremely difficult economic times, and local budgets are being squeezed," Rep. McGovern said. "The federal assistance we are announcing today will help Worcester maintain critical public safety and law enforcement programs.
"Not a lot of people can say that they could get killed every day they go to work, but that's the risk that cops sign up for and no one should forget it. Their job is tough enough under the best circumstances so we can't keep asking our police departments to do more with less," said Sen. Kerry. "This is an investment in our officers and our communities."
"The job of law enforcement isn't easy even under the best of circumstances," said Sen. Brown. "It is my hope that this grant will provide meaningful support to the department's brave and committed officers as they work each and every day to keep the people of Worcester safe."
"These funds are critical for maintaining a police presence in our neighborhoods, especially in areas that have been impacted by funding cuts and to strategically target areas where crime trends and analysis dictate," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "We are extremely grateful to the continued support of our Congressional delegation and for their work in securing these much-needed public safety dollars."
