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State and local law enforcement agencies in Indiana will receive funding as part of a $75 million grant from the Department of Justice.
The Indiana State Police and the cities of Hobart and Jeffersonville will each receive a portion of the funds announced this week for active shooter training, combatting the trafficking of illegal drugs, and law enforcement mental health and wellness.
“Today’s announcement underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to supporting our state and local law enforcement partners as we work together to keep our communities safe,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a news release. “These grants build on our efforts to disrupt the trafficking of deadly drugs, expand access to the mental health and wellness services that police officers deserve, and fund other critical programs. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to get law enforcement officers the resources and assistance needed to help keep them and their communities safe.”
Roughly $48 million will go toward combatting the distribution of opioids and methamphetamine through DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, Anti-Heroin Task Force program and the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program.
Indiana State Police will receive $2 million as part of the 2023 COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program Awards.
Through the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program, more than $9 million will go to law enforcement agencies and organizations to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness programs.
Hobart will receive $200,000 and the Jeffersonville will receive $192,234 as part of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects.
“Every day, across the country, our state and local law enforcement partners are working tirelessly on the ground to protect our communities and preserve public safety,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in the news release. “Through the grants announced today, the Justice Department honors and supports our state and local partners with much-needed resources for community policing and critical training while increasing officer access to mental health and wellness services.”
Other funding includes almost $11 million to go toward active shooter training through the Preparing for Active Shooter Situations program.
Also, about $7.6 million in funding is for the continuation of the Collaborative Reform Initiative, through which technical assistance providers offer expert services to state, local, territorial and tribal law enforcement agencies to support effective community policing.
“The COPS Office grants announced today will help ensure law enforcement agencies across the country have the resources and training they need to promote public safety and further develop police-community trust,” Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in the news release. “Our investment in the Collaborative Reform Initiative, in particular, will allow the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners to continue providing critical, voluntary technical assistance and support to agencies that request it.”
Finally, an award of $130,000 will go to support the efforts of the National Blue Alert Network, a voluntary nationwide system to give authorities an early warning of threats against law enforcement and to aid in the apprehension of suspects who have killed or seriously injured an officer or deputy.
“COPS Office grants work to not only reduce crime and increase public safety,” COPS Director Hugh T. Clements said in the news release. “But they also make sure that the work is done through the lens of community policing. I know that both officers and community residents will be well-served by these grants.”
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