FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 01, 2011


Missouri awards more than $7 million in drug task force and law enforcement grants to fight crime across the state

Grants will help ensure continued strength of Missouri's important multi-jurisdictional drug task forces

The Missouri Department of Public Safety announced today that law enforcement agencies across Missouri will share more than $7 million in grants designed to combat illegal drugs and drug-related crimes, and to strengthen law enforcement efforts. The grants will help ensure the continued strength of Missouri's multi-jurisdictional drug task forces during tight budget times.
"These grants are designed to make Missouri communities safer and stronger by bolstering the state's   highly effective multi-jurisdictional drug task forces in the battle against drugs and drug-related crime," said Department of Public Safety Director John M. Britt. "The grants should make a real difference by allowing these law enforcement agencies to continue to devote significant resources to the fight against illegal drugs.”
A total of $7,135,243 in federal Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) is being awarded to 27 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces operated by counties and municipalities; one program that responds to clandestine methamphetamine labs and provides important supplies to emergency response personnel; two prosecutorial efforts to combat drugs; one program focused on preventing drug use through education and early intervention; one prosecutorial program to investigate sexual and domestic abuse;  two law enforcement agencies for records management system purchases; three law enforcement agencies for equipment purchases; and one program that assists the Department of Public Safety develop crime fighting strategy.
The grants will utilize $1,340,236 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The initiatives receiving a portion of the total of $7,135,243 in grants are:
·    The North Missouri Drug Task Force in Adair County will receive $210,442; ·    The East Central Drug Task Force in Audrain County will receive $149,755; ·    The Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force in Barry County will receive $122,738; ·    The Kansas City Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force will receive $311,309; ·    The North County M.E.G. Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force in Bridgeton will receive $41,303; ·    The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force will receive $327,220; ·    The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group in Camden County will receive $205,465; ·    The Carroll County Sheriff's Department will receive $8,539; ·    The Clay County Drug Task Force will receive $368,438; ·    The Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotic Group in Cole County will receive $216,610; ·    The Automating Evidence Management to Maintain Evidentiary Integrity Program of the Creve Coeur Police Department will receive $15,378; ·    The Dallas County Sheriff's Office will receive $18,750; ·    The Mineral Area Drug Task Force in Farmington will receive $92,391; ·    The Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit will receive $85,604; ·    The Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team in Greene County will receive $301,324; ·    The Greenville Police Department will receive $25,371; ·    The NITRO Task Force in Grundy County will receive $57,290; ·    The Iron County Sheriff's Department will receive $6,000; ·    The Jackson County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force will receive $260,163; ·    The Drug Abatement Response Team in Jackson County will receive $247,910; ·    The Jasper County Drug Task Force will receive $96,244; ·    The Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group will receive $200,688; ·    The Lafayette County Narcotics Unit will receive $143,857; ·    The Maries County Sheriff's Department will receive $9,987; ·    The Clandestine Drug Lab Collection Stations of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will receive $180,335; ·    The Administrative Data Analysis & Problem Identification Program of the Missouri State Highway Patrol will receive $76,272; ·    The Northeast Missouri Narcotics Task Force in Monroe City will receive $237,509; ·    The Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force in Morgan County will receive $203,282; ·    The Bootheel Drug Task Force in Pemiscot County will receive $177,686; ·    The Platte County Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Group will receive $232,100; ·    The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force in Poplar Bluff will receive $223,212; ·    The St Charles County Regional Drug Task Force will receive $189,732; ·    The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Investigation Project of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office will receive $33,168; ·    The Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force in St. Louis County will receive $195,849; ·    The Metro Multi-Jurisdictional Undercover Drug Program of the St. Louis Metro Police Department will receive $190,989; ·    The Stone County Prosecutor Drug/Alcohol Offender Program of the Stone County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will receive $26,331; ·    The Community Narcotics Enforcement Team DTF in Vernon County will receive $100,489; ·    The South Central Drug Task Force in West Plains will receive $229,803.

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For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov