12.10.22 – KTLO
Arkansas Department of Safety recently funded grants totally more than $7 million to 113 local and state law enforcement agencies, correctional, or detention facilities. Approximately 90 percent of the total funds will be used to purchase new equipment.
The grants were authorized last year through legislation adopted by Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas General Assembly. Act 786 sanctioned the Public Safety Equipment Grant Program to be administered by the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and provides grants to be used for purchasing, “non-lethal equipment aiding in improving trust and relationships between law enforcement agencies, detention centers and corrections agencies within their communities that they serve.”
Hutchinson states “one of the key recommendations of our Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas was the creation of state funding for increased training and improving the safety equipment used by local law enforcement officers. The grants directed to local law enforcement agencies will help to further the trust between these agencies and the communities they serve, and I want to commend the Department of Public Safety and the General Assembly for bringing this program to fruition.”
Local agencies receiving grants include:
– Arkansas State University Mountain Home Police Department totaling $3,448.39
– Bull Shoals Police Department totaling $20,699.94
– Flippin Police Department totaling $13,497.33
– Lakeview Police Department totaling $22,627.03
– Marion County Government totaling $20,071.83
– Newton County Sheriff’s Office totaling $62,673.51
– Jasper Police Department totaling $19,999.61
– Arkansas Division of Corrections totaling $100,000
– Arkansas Game and Fish Commission totaling $100,000
– Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy totaling $89,979.02
– Arkansas State Police totaling $99,661.04