Federal Byrne grants have been awarded to 13 law enforcement agencies in Washington State, totaling over $2.6 million. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the funding, which supports various crime-fighting initiatives proposed by each jurisdiction and evaluated by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
U.S. Attorney Gorman highlighted the range of funded proposals: "The proposals being funded this cycle range from high tech items for officer safety such as drones, robots and ballistic vests, to officer recruitment programs and school resource officers." She also mentioned a grant for "The Grappler," a tool designed to safely stop fleeing vehicles during high-speed chases.
The Seattle Police Department received two significant grants. The largest, amounting to $750,012, is intended for Seattle and its surrounding areas to fund programs aimed at reducing crime through law enforcement training, victim services, and community-based initiatives.
Another substantial grant will support innovation in Seattle's 9-1-1 dispatch system. Partnering with the National Policing Institute, SPD plans to implement and evaluate the Intelligent Risk Management system (IRM) for emergency calls. This system assesses whether alternative dispatch options like mental health specialists are suitable for specific situations. The program will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation with hopes of improving police capacity and public trust while being considered for replication nationwide.
Other recipients include:
- Tacoma & Pierce County: $339,235 for youth violence reduction strategies and a sex offender records management system.
- Snohomish County: $448,000 for Rapid DNA systems aiding in crime-solving and victim identification.
- Clark County and Vancouver: $121,258 shared between both agencies for equipment purchases enhancing public safety.
- Bellingham: $40,170 supporting bicycle officers' addition and de-escalation equipment.
- Kitsap County: $39,423 allocated for purchasing ballistic vests against high-caliber rifle shots.
- Lakewood: $39,064 dedicated to acquiring a tactical robot ensuring officer safety during evaluations.
- Everett: $34,720 aimed at digital recruitment strategies reducing officer vacancies.
- Thurston County: $19,809 funding two "Grappler Police Bumper Pursuit" technology systems.
- Bremerton: $14,524 directed towards downtown core crime prevention strategies.
- Marysville: $11,426 used for an Unmanned Aerial System (drone) assisting in various law enforcement operations.
- Lynnwood: $10,209 designated for officer safety equipment purchases.
- Longview: $10,098 continuing the school resource officer program in Longview and Cowlitz County.
These grants honor New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne who was killed on duty on February 26th 1988 at age 22.
