Local police departments receive funding to enhance school security

NATICK — Lt. Governor Karyn Polito has announced grant awards totaling more than $1.3 million in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds to 77 local police departments. The grants will help departments purchase vital equipment and technology that will provide additional protection to law enforcement officers and enhance security at schools in various communities.

“Our goal is to provide law enforcement officers with the most updated equipment and technology available to ensure their safety while they serve on the front lines to protect our communities,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “These awards will provide Massachusetts police officers with life-saving protective gear such as bulletproof vests, helmets and medical equipment as well as a range of technology items to bolster public safety.”

This competitive opportunity allowed local municipal police departments to solicit grant funding to address their equipment and technology related needs. Priority was given to applicants that solicited funding for items that would further enhance overall protection of officers on the streets or for items that would provide additional safeguards to protect schools and students from random acts of violence.

“These funds are critically important as they will provide our schools with much needed security cameras, alarms and active shooter kits for our classrooms,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett. “It is unfortunate that we live in a time that we have to outfit our schools with these types of supplies but we cannot ignore the potential dangers and need to ensure that our youth, school personnel and officers have the technology they need to keep our communities safe and secure.”

“Many communities in the Commonwealth face budgetary challenges which limit their ability to raise or delegate funds for necessary equipment to make their jobs easier,” said President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Steve Wojnar. “Thanks to the efforts of the Baker-Polito Administration and Secretary Bennett and his staff at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Police Departments and Schools throughout the Commonwealth will have money to purchase vital equipment and technology designed to protect their law enforcement officers and enhance security in our schools.”

“The funding from these grants will go a long way in ensuring our police officers are prepared for any situation and can perform their jobs to the absolute best of their ability,” said State Senator Richard Ross (Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex). “I appreciate the commitment of the Baker-Polito Administration in seeing this initiative become a reality.”

Bridgewater $20,000.00 Surveillance Cameras

East Bridgewater $19,980.00 Video Surveillance System for Police Department & Schools

Fall River $12,750.00 Automatic License Plate reader

Mattapoisett $18,646.00 Mobile Data Terminals & Portable Radios

New Bedford $19,910.00 Portable Radios

Somerset $18,802.00 Portable Radios

Taunton $20,000.00 Video Surveillance System for School

Wareham $19,976.00 Active Shooter Kits

West Bridgewater $16,269.96 Video Surveillance System for Police Department & Schools