Department of Justice Grant Awarded to Local Sheriff's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 31, 2006

KNOXVILLE, TN - Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) announced today that the Blount County Sheriff's Office will receive a Federal grant of $23,772 as part of the Fiscal Year 2006 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

The JAG Program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their local needs.  Grants can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice. 

The Blount County Sheriff's objective is to advance in-car safety, improve in-car data transfer, promote in-car efficiency and evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies to enhance officer and public safety.  The overall goal of the Sheriff's program is to promote safety and efficiencies in the field.  This award will enable them to purchase the necessary computer hardware and software for its Patrol Division to implement this program.

"I am pleased that the Justice Department has recognized the hard work and dedication of the Blount County Sheriff's Office," said Duncan.  "Ensuring that our law enforcement officers have the most up-to-date technology allows them to better protect their own officers and the citizens of East Tennessee."