CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Local law enforcement officers will now get new resources thanks to a federal grant.
The Laramie County Commissioners authorized a resolution during their meeting this afternoon allowing the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department and Cheyenne Police Department to accept a $77,820 federal grant.
In August, the entities applied for the Fiscal Year 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, program. JAG, a federal grant, provides states, tribes and local governments with funding to support program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections and drug treatment and enforcement.
The Office of Justice Programs approved the county’s application in late September.
Of that amount, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office requested $19,227.34 for duty belt supplies. The 33 sets of supplies each include an outer and inner duty belt, two pairs of handcuffs, belt keepers, a flashlight and baton ring, a key holder and a duty boot voucher, according to the grant application. The supplies will be given to newly hired deputies and staff School Resource Officers. The office is also requesting $594.66 in NIBRS Compliance, which are funds that will be used to train staff and maintain computers systems as necessary.
The Cheyenne Police Department requested $49,300 to pay for overtime costs in salary and $8,698 to pay for overtime costs in benefits. The department recently created a Crime Prevention Unit to help protect residents and business owners against thefts and other crimes, according to the application. Having overtime funds available will help the department identify issues, seek out criminal actors and efficiently route those offenders, helping reduce the overall crime rate, the application states.
