Haverhill and Lawrence are among area cities to share in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan said Wednesday Haverhill was awarded $39,354 to pay for upgraded Tasers and training, while Lawrence was awarded $43,500 to modernize its patrol technology.
“Our police officers show up for us every day, and this funding helps us show up for them. Byrne JAG grants put real tools in the hands of local departments so officers can do their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible. That means safer communities for all of us to call home,” said Trahan. “I fought for this funding because our local departments asked for it, and I’ll keep working to deliver what they need to protect our communities.”
Haverhill reported its goal is to “enhance officer and community safety by strengthening de-escalation capabilities and providing officers with effective, less-lethal options when responding to volatile or aggressive situations.” The department said it will use the Taser 10 program to “help reduce use-of-force incidents and associated injuries, ensure officers have the training and equipment necessary to respond safely and proportionally, mitigate legal liability and associated costs and strengthen community trust through safer, more measured policing practices.”
Lawrence said it plans to improve public safety and combat violent crime by modernizing its patrol technology and improving officers’ ability to respond quickly and effectively in the field.
Trahan said, since taking office in 2019, she has supported increased money for the Byrne JAG program and the Community Oriented Policing Services program, the two main federal programs for local police departments.