Town seeks public input for JAG grant request

Town seeks public input for JAG grant request
Cutler Bay Town and Police logos

Officials of the Town of Cutler Bay announced at the end of May that they are seeking public comments in support of their plan to apply for the 2014 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). If the application is successful, the town could receive $13,261 in JAG funds.

The funds would be used to implement a crime prevention and education program for the residents and business owners that live within the town limits. Public comments must be made before June 27.

“The objective of the town’s grant proposal is to reduce instances of burglary and theft by providing local residents and business owners with a free on-site Home/Business Security Survey,” said town grants coordinator LaKeesha Morris in a public statement.

“This survey will provide residents and business owners with an assessment of general vulnerabilities of their premises and recommendations for safety improvements. Computer security also is included in the assessment to combat instances of cybercrimes or cyber bullying.” The surveys would be conducted by officers of the Cutler Bay Neighborhood Resource Unit (NRU) that completed training through the Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions and is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. It was named in honor of Edward “Eddie” R. Byrne, an officer in the New York City Police Department who was murdered while on duty.

Grants coordinator Morris said that the funding is needed because, despite low crime rates and a reduction in traffic accidents over the past few years, there was a slight increase in burglary, larceny and auto theft from May 2013 to May 2014. Funding from the JAG grant will allow the department to offer overtime hours to officers for the benefit of increasing patrol in the target areas and conducting the on-site security surveys.

To provide your feedback or for a copy of the town’s full grant proposal, contact Morris at 305-234-4262, ext. 5563, or by email at lmorris@cutlerbay-fl.gov.


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