Law enforcement agencies across Missouri will share more than $7.3 million in grants designed to combat drug-related crimes and strengthen law enforcement efforts.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety is responsible for the allocation of the funds, which are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The South Central Drug Task Force, which serves Texas County, received $331,159.
“The production, sale and use of illegal drugs are problems that devastate communities and put Missouri citizens at great risk,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “Specialized task forces that allow law enforcement officers to focus on solving drug-related crimes are a powerful tool for dealing with troubling issues like the spread of methamphetamine. Today, we put more than $7 million of new resources in the hands of officers who’ll use them to crack down on the criminals who traffic and sell illegal narcotics in their communities and to improve their law enforcement agencies.”
Nixon announced the grant awards during visits to the Greene County Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team (COMET) initiative in Springfield and the Jackson County Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force in Kansas City.
“It’s gratifying to know that we’re putting these funds to good use, getting more resources, people and equipment out on the street in population centers like Kansas City and Springfield, as well as in rural Missouri,” Nixon said. “These dollars make a real difference for our cops and the people they protect.”
In total, $7,339,177 in federal Justice Assistance Grants are being awarded to 28 drug task forces operated by counties, municipalities and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and to eight law enforcement agencies to strengthen their law enforcement programs. Because of federal budget cuts this year that slashed more than 60 percent of the funding for drug task force initiatives, the Nixon administration sought an allocation of Recovery Act funds that would let applicant agencies fill the gap created by those cuts.
The $7.3 million announced last week will prevent many of the recipient agencies from being forced to make cuts to their drug task force programs, even in the face of difficult economic conditions.