CHESTER, PA- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today joined Chester Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. , Chester Councilwoman Willie M. Wells and Chester Police Chief Floyd C. Lewis III to discuss the $590,483 in federal funding going to the City of Chester through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). The funding was included in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“These grants will help the City of Chester and its law enforcement agencies support activities that ensure the safety of its citizens,” said Senator Casey. “One of the objectives of the recovery plan, which I supported, is to help governments revitalize their communities, and these funds will help make the communities of Chester safer by preventing and controlling crime.”
“In the past JAG resources have been used to fund police equipment and patrol vehicles, allowing the City to better protect and serve its citizens,” said Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. “Because of the grant’s significant increase in size, the police department will be able to look into developing new initiatives and programs for which funding was not previously available,” said Mayor Butler. “As we move forward, the City will be extremely judicious in deciding how these funds are spent to ensure the maximum results are achieved.”
The Byrne program is a grant program designed to help state and local governments control and prevent crime and further develop the criminal justice system.
For more information on Byrne grants, please visit: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/jag.html
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