Maine awarded $2.4M for crime prevention

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $2,410,259 to various entities in Maine for crime prevention.

U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced the grants Friday.

The money will be allocated as follows:

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program:

. $1,873,978 to state Department of Public Safety to sustain statewide multijurisdictional drug task force activities.

. $17,509 to Washington County and the city of Calais to upgrade technology in order to improve communications.

. $50,936 to York County and Biddeford to upgrade security around police departments, buy equipment and provide training for deputies.

. $46,615 to Penobscot County, Bangor and Dexter. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department will use the money for training and equipment for the special response team; Bangor will support the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and Dexter will use the money to buy a radar traffic device.

. $10,687 to Cumberland County and the city of Saco. Saco will use the funds to augment a drug enforcement and reduction strategy that will involve coordinating efforts with both the state and federal agencies working in the area. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office intends to use the funds to buy equipment to enhance investigations and officer safety and for the 600-bed correctional facility.

. $158,263 to the Portland Police Department to enhance services to the mentally ill, to computerize the department’s photography library and to improve relations with the local immigrant and refugee communities.

. $11,824 to Brunswick to buy surveillance recording equipment, a data collection wand for tracking of property and evidence, and a hand-held wireless pocket PC.

. $15,235 to Old Orchard Beach to pay for a special enforcement team that will focus on illegal and illicit drug use, underage drinking and domestic violence.

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program:

. $75,212 to Houlton Band of Maliseets STOP Violence Against Indian Women Grant Program.

. $150,000 to Passamaquoddy Tribe.