Federal Byrne grants totaling over $2.6 million have been allocated to 13 law enforcement agencies in Washington State, according to U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. These funds will support various crime-fighting initiatives across the state.
“The proposals being funded this cycle range from high tech items for officer safety such as drones, robots and ballistic vests, to officer recruitment programs and school resource officers,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorman. “There is even a grant for something called ‘The Grappler’ which assists officers with safely stopping a fleeing vehicle in a high-speed chase.”
The Seattle Police Department has been awarded two significant grants. The first, amounting to $750,012, is designated for Seattle and its neighboring jurisdictions to finance crime reduction programs, including law enforcement training and community-based services.
A second grant supports innovation within the 9-1-1 dispatch system. Seattle is collaborating with the National Policing Institute on the Intelligent Risk Management system (IRM) aimed at assessing emergency calls for alternative dispatch methods like mental health specialists.
Other departments receiving grants include Tacoma & Pierce County with $339,235 for youth violence reduction strategies; Snohomish County with $448,000 for Rapid DNA systems; Clark County and Vancouver sharing $121,258 for equipment purchases; Bellingham receiving $40,170 for bicycle officers and de-escalation tools; Kitsap County getting $39,423 for ballistic vests; Lakewood acquiring $39,064 for a tactical robot; Everett obtaining $34,720 for recruitment efforts; Thurston County awarded $19,809 for “Grappler Police Bumper Pursuit” systems; Bremerton receiving $14,524 for downtown crime prevention strategies; Marysville getting $11,426 for an Unmanned Aerial System (drone); Lynnwood allocated $10,209 for officer safety equipment; and Longview provided with $10,098 to continue its school resource officer program.
The Byrne Grants honor New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988.