BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem Police will get more than $1 million from the state to buy body cameras and give personnel retention/recruitment bonuses, it was announced Wednesday.
Also, Easton Police Department will get $768,322 to buy portable radios, mobile radios, and base communication radio.
- State Sen. Lisa Boscola announced a nearly $4.7 million grant to law enforcement, justice and safety initiatives in the Lehigh Valley
- More than $1 million will go to Bethlehem Police for bodycams and bonuses
- Some police agencies in the Valley are getting drones, license plate readers
The money is part of $4,696,876 being distributed to policing and criminal justice programs in the Lehigh Valley for local law enforcement, nonprofit security upgrades, crime victims’ programs and criminal justice programs, according to a news release from state Sen. Lisa Boscola's (D-Lehigh/Northampton) office.
Bethlehem's portion of the grant, $1,020,499, accounts for nearly 22% of all the funds.
Easton's allotment of $768,322 accounts for more than 16%.
Other notable sections include: license plate readers for Easton City police ($131,886) and a drone for Slate Belt Regional Police.
“It is essential that we provide local law enforcement with the tools necessary to serve our citizens and keep our communities safe,” Boscola said in the release.
She said the grants "will allow local nonprofits to make necessary safety and security upgrades that are designed to protect the safety and security of the users of their facilities and also provide for needed services for crime victims.”
Other grants approved are:
Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program
• Lehigh County: NIBRS training to all 720 full and part time officers along with support staff in Lehigh County. $291,342
• Forks Township: Mobile data terminals. $125,658
• Nazareth Borough: Multiband police base station radios; multiband mobile and portable P-25 compliant radios; and License plate readers. $283,003
• Slate Belt Regional Police: Retention bonuses, LEMUR S Drone, and TruNarc Drug Screening Analyzer $34,000
Nonprofit Security Grant Fund:
• Congregation Bnai Shalom: Safety and Security Upgrades - $25,000
• Valley Youth House: Safety and Security Upgrades - $25,000
Gun Violence Investigation & Prosecution Grant Program
• Lehigh County: Funds will be used to buy an upgraded forensic microscope, camera, a doppler chronograph, and a ballistic gel starter kit - $11,830
• Bethlehem City: Funding will be used to upgrade and expand coverage of the Bethlehem Police Department's video surveillance system in areas associated with gun violence - $350,000
• Easton City: Funding will be used to support the purchase of license plate readers and street cameras - $131,868
Federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds
• Lehigh County: Lehigh County Drug Treatment Court - $105,000
State Children's Advocacy Center Funds
• Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc.: Strengthening CAC Operations and Impact - $46,832
Federal Victims of Crime Act, State Rights and Services Act, and State Victims of Juvenile Offenders Funds
• Crime Victims Council of Lehigh Valley Inc.: RASA Northampton County and VOJO Lehigh County - 197,570
• Lehigh County: Lehigh County Victim/Witness Unit (VW/RASA) - $686,536
• Crime Victims Council of Lehigh Valley Inc.: RASA Northampton County and VOJO Lehigh County - $42,000
• Northampton County: Victims Rights Project - $458,243
State Violence & Delinquency Prevention Program Funds
• Lehigh County: Lehigh County Youth Justice Advisory Board Council - $94,173
