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The City of Española Police Department has been awarded a grant worth nearly three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) from the “Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program” administered by the US Department of Justice.
Named in honor of Edward R. Byrne, a New York City police officer killed in the line of duty by gang members acting on instructions from a jailed drug kingpin, the grant program provides funds that can be used by local governments to create safer communities.
“I am very pleased that the City of Española will receive this much needed funding that will allow us the unprecedented opportunity to augment our police force with additional officers, public safety aides and additional police cars,” said Española Mayor Joseph M. Maestas, “we will be able to put more police officers out on the streets to fight crime.”
The grant money will be used to hire two police officers, two public safety aides, and purchase four vehicles. The grant will pay for the salaries for the new personnel for one year, with the city committing to sustain the positions for at least one year after the grant program ends. The public safety aides will be able to handle calls such as vehicle escorts, vehicle accidents on private property, illegally parked or abandoned vehicles and traffic control, allowing police officers more time to focus on community policing to address drug related crimes which affect the city.
“It is our goal to have police officers conducting saturation patrols in high crime areas,” said Police Chief Julian Gonzales. The Police Department has begun recruiting for the new positions.
For more information, call the Española City Clerk’s office at (505) 747-6012.
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