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PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,283 TO THE CITY OF NORMAN AND CLEVELAND COUNTY FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (DOJ/BJA) THROUGH THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM WITH NORMAN'S PORTION OF $14,655 TO BE USED BY THE NORMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING (AND ASSOCIATED TRAVEL, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1617-65 AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE GRANT REVENUE ACCOUNT.
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BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the City of Norman and Cleveland County have been awarded the fiscal year 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG, #2016-DJ-BX-0676) in the amount of $16,283. These entities are considered disparate jurisdictions and therefore are required to share grant funds based on a United States Department of Justice formula that includes population, crime statistics and other law enforcement related data. Norman's share of the award is $14,655 with the remaining $1,628 passing through to Cleveland County.
DISCUSSION: It is the intention of the Norman Police Department to use their share of the award for three purposes:
1. Training for Forensic Technicians - The Norman Police Department's Crime Lab is responsible for processing major crime scenes. It is staffed by two non-commissioned Forensic Technicians and requires specialized certifications, annual accreditation, and continuing education. With JAG funding our agency would be able to certify our single un-certified technician as an International Association of Identification (IAI) Crime Scene Investigator. Funding would also allow the agency to send both technicians to required continuing education courses that are geared toward subsequent (IAI) certifications.
2. Purchase of Tracking Transmitters - Since 2012, the Norman Police Department has received over 33 calls regarding missing persons over the age of 55 - those adults most likely to be at-risk ...
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