Nearly $8 million in federal grants are slated to bolster public safety efforts across various cities and counties in Western Washington, as announced by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. These grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, are targeted to both enhance crime reduction programs and fund technological advancements to better serve the community's needs.
"It is a competitive process to get these federal dollars, and I congratulate the departments and organizations on the success of their applications," Gorman said in a statement. Among the top beneficiaries is the City of Seattle, which is set to receive a grant amounting to $1.926 million. This funding will significantly expand the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department, enabling them to quickly respond to citizens dealing with behavioral health challenges or similar crises.
The City of Tacoma will also see a substantial boost, with a $963,000 grant purposed to create a team of Community Service Officers. These officers are envisioned to help reduce the load on police officers by addressing non-criminal calls related to mental health and homelessness. Tacoma Police Department has been grappling with staff shortages, a situation these grants aim to ameliorate.
Similarly, the King County Sheriff's Office is set to enhance its Crisis Intervention Team with mental health professionals, thanks to a $963,000 grant. “These dollars will make a difference in our community,” said Gorman, as funds are allocated to further aid public safety calls that necessitate specialized mental health services.
In the realm of legal support, Tacoma Municipal Court and the non-profit Choose 180 received funding to strengthen their programs. The court will utilize half a million dollars for enhancing mental health and community court programs. Choose 180, on the other hand, is granted $552,000 to aid in reducing youth gun violence through educational engagement and the CHOOSING Freedom service, directed at youth at the cusp of violent involvement.
Technological improvements are not left behind, with grants being directed to cities like Belleville and counties like King and Whatcom for the implementation of body-worn camera programs and rapid DNA machines. The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center is another notable recipient, receiving $790,000 to modernize its database, an upgrade that is expected to help staff spare more time to support sexual assault survivors directly.
All funds are part of the 2024 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants, named in honor of the late New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne. Full details on these grants can be found in a recent publication by the U.S. Department of Justice.
