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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that he has secured $3.75 million to support Northwest Indiana’s law enforcement officers and $25 million for his nationwide Bulletproof Vest Partnership. Specifically, $3 million will go to the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) for operations; $475,000 will go to the Schererville, St. John, and Dyer Police Departments for law enforcement equipment; $225,000 will go to the Griffith Police Department for law enforcement equipment; and $50,000 will go to the Hebron Police Department for law enforcement equipment. The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today.
“Times are tough and I know that law enforcement agencies in Northwest Indiana and across the country are suffering,” said Visclosky. “With the economy slumping and communities in turmoil, it is more important than ever to provide officers with the resources they need to fight crime and drugs and keep our communities safe. This funding is designed to do exactly that.”
In addition to the support for law enforcement included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment programs enacted into law last week by President Obama include $2 billion for Byrne Justice Assistance formula grants to support local law enforcement efforts with equipment and operating costs, $1 billion for the COPS hiring grant program, and an additional $1 billion in other support for state and local law enforcement.
$3 Million for Lake County HIDTA
The $3 million for the Lake County HIDTA will be used to continue the HIDTA’s drug control programs. Visclosky helped create the Lake County HIDTA in 1996 to aid Northwest Indiana in overcoming a wave of drug and gang crime. He has helped it secure over $36 million for anti-drug and anti-gang efforts since then. The HIDTA, which is administrated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has made over 3,900 arrests and seized drugs and firearms worth a combined street value of over $251 million.
“The HIDTA is an invaluable law enforcement resource in the battle against drugs and gang crime,” said Visclosky. “Through the HIDTA, our local law enforcement agencies are able to tap into special federal resources that help them gain the upper hand in the battle against criminals who plague our communities.”
“The Lake County Executive Board would like to thank Congressman Pete Visclosky and his staff for their continued support of the Lake County HIDTA program,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the F.B.I. Indianapolis Division Tom Gancarz. “The Lake County HIDTA initiatives will benefit greatly from the grant money to continue the dismantlement of drug trafficking organizations, target violent gangs, and the illicit gun trade in Lake County to make the citizens safer.”
$750,000 for Five Local Police Departments
The $750,000 for local police departments will be used to purchase technological improvements that help keep communities safe.
“Using modern equipment makes police officers more efficient and effective in patrolling our streets and keeping our communities safe in both routine and emergency situations,” said Visclosky. “This support for technological improvements like new communications systems, in-car video cameras, and mobile data terminals will help Northwest Indiana’s officers do their jobs even better.”
The $475,000 for Schererville, St. John, and Dyer will purchase end-user and infrastructure equipment and related software, which will enhance the communication and data interoperability between the departments. The new equipment will allow the departments to meet their goals of utilizing information technology and enhancing communications to better meet the needs of the tri-town community.
“Enhancing the opportunities to provide safer and more efficient methods regarding emergency, and community oriented affiliations, will be significantly increased due to grant provisions designed by Congressman Pete Visclosky,” said Dyer Police Chief Richard Quinn. “His efforts to support first responders throughout the Northwest Indiana area have reassured the law enforcement community of his, and the federal government’s, commitment to necessary technological support. This coordinated endeavor delivers vital tools ensuring a finely tuned product of professional service.”
The $225,000 for Griffith will be used for upgrades to the dispatch center, the purchase of new digital in-car camera systems for patrol cars, and the purchase of graffiti removal equipment.
“I would like to thank Congressman Visclosky for his continued support of Griffith and the law enforcement community, which has been invaluable,” said Griffith Police Chief Ron Kottka. “This funding will help us upgrade our communication center and our in-car video system. The upgrades will bring the Griffith Police Department into the 21st century and help my officers protect the citizens of Griffith during routine and emergency situations.”
The $50,000 for Hebron will be used for the purchase of new digital in-car camera systems for patrol cars.
“The cameras that we will install in our cars with this funding will help us safeguard both our citizens and our police officers,” said Hebron Police Chief Steven Sibbrell. “I am very appreciative of the Congressman’s support, which helps us keep the citizens safe.”
$25 Million for Visclosky’s Nationwide Bulletproof Vest Partnership
The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill also contains $25 million for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership, which Visclosky created in 1998 after he learned that gang members in Northwest Indiana wore bulletproof vests, but police officers did not have the resources to purchase the life-saving equipment. The Partnership funds up to 50 percent of the cost of bulletproof vests purchased or replaced by law enforcement agencies. Since 1999, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership has invested over $234 million in helping over 818,000 law enforcement officers purchase bulletproof vests. In Northwest Indiana, it has provided over $524,000 toward the purchase or replacement of over 2,800 bulletproof vests.
“A bulletproof vest is an essential, life-saving safety item that can be too costly for some law enforcement officers,” said Visclosky. “The Bulletproof Vest Partnership provides assistance for purchasing a bulletproof vest so that they are affordable and available to officers everywhere. In Northwest Indiana, the program has supported the purchase of many vests that keep our officers safe every day in the line of duty.”
“In these tough times with tight budgets, it’s important to be able to get access to bulletproof vests,” said Fraternal Order of Police Indiana State Chairman and National Sergeant at Arms Tim Downs. “Congressman Visclosky’s program makes it much easier to obtain vests. Law enforcement officers across the country appreciate the importance of the program. It saves lives.”
On October 15, 2008, President Bush signed Visclosky’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008 into law, extending the Partnership through Fiscal Year 2012, which continues the grant program for three years. The legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 404-2, passed the Senate unanimously, and garnered widespread support in the law enforcement community. |
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