MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that she has awarded $5.6 million in grants to support statewide programs designed to increase public safety on Alabama’s highways and in the state’s communities. The funds will allow state troopers and sheriffs’ deputies to conduct extra patrols and checkpoints during peak travel times targeting speeding, seat belt violations and impaired driving.

“Public Safety is a core mission of my Administration. Our state, regional, county and municipal law enforcement officers do a tremendous job keeping our state and her communities safe,” said Governor Ivey. “I am pleased to award these grants to support the programs that help our officers receive the training and resources needed to fulfill their mission to serve and protect our communities and our highways.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA manages a wide array of programs that support law enforcement and traffic safety, energy conservation, water resource management, economic development and recreation.

Money will be split between the state’s four regional traffic safety offices. IN addition, the University of Alabama will use a grant to continue projects and programs that help collect traffic safety data for the state.

In North Alabama, $1.42 million will go to the Franklin County Commission for the North Central Alabama Highway Safety Office, which includes Limestone and Madison counties.

$203,558 will go to the University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety, which uses funds for technology development projects that improve data quality, timeliness, completeness and the efficiency of officers and emergency medical services personnel across the state.

Forensics Training and Equipment

The Governor awarded two grants totaling $240,000 for law enforcement equipment and forensics training to be utilized statewide.

• Jacksonville State University is using a $150,000 grant to assist its Center for Applied Forensics in providing training to law enforcement officers across the state in recognizing, preserving and collecting items of evidence routinely encountered by patrol personnel and investigators working complex crime scenes. The proper collection of evidence assists in the prosecution of cases.
• A $90,000 grant to the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Law Enforcement Services Division is being used to purchase three handheld drug analyzers. This equipment will allow officers to safely analyze suspected narcotics, while maintaining the integrity of evidence, and all will help keep officers safe when handling suspected drug samples.

Compliance

Gov. Ivey awarded a $103,343 grant to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency that will be used to ensure compliance of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The act requires that convicted sex offenders register and notify authorities of where they are living once they are released from prison. ALEA will use funds to maintain compliance of the law by maintaining current cases to adhere to federal and state laws.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor commended Governor Ivey and ADECA for their steadfast support, as well as recognizing the critical role these grants will play in ensuring law enforcement is properly equipped.