Fresno Receives Public Safety Grant | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Friday, May 15, 2009

Fresno, CA Fresno Police are getting the biggest chunk of the federal grant locally, one point six million dollars to maintain and improve public safety services. Police Chief Jerry Dyer says he will use the entire amount on personnel.

Chief Jerry Dyer said, "The grant will allow us to fund all nine cadets that are used for video policing. To fund two part time retired officers that will be doing all of our registration of sex offenders."

Fresno County is splitting its award of 333 thousand dollars between the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office.

Sheriff Margaret Mims is using her portion to help mountain area deputies by purchasing four 4 wheel drive pickups to replace aging ones. The leftover money will also give several deputies job security.

Sheriff Margaret Mims said, "We can use that money for vehicles, it's a onetime cost and that way we can offset some salaries so we won't have to lose salaried people."

The Justice Assistance Grant is given out based on population and violent crime statistics. Other cities will also get much smaller amounts to help with essentials.

Chief Dyer is hoping that by the time the grant money runs out, the city will be in a better financial state.

"We are hopeful that after the next two years perhaps the economy will stabilize and the city will be in a better position to support these positions," said Chief Dyer.

For the Sheriff's Office, possibly facing more than 13 million dollars in cuts soon, every bit of incoming money will make a difference.

"Even though it's a small grant, it's enough to save a deputy sheriff's job," said Sheriff Mims