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Date: 12/12/2023
BELCHERTOWN — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced nearly $5 million in funds awarded to 130 police departments across the state to address their communities’ unmet public safety priorities.
Belchertown was awarded approximately $44,630.
Belchertown Police Chief Kevin Pacunas said most of the funding will allow all the officers to receive active shooter training.
It will also be used for an interview room camera and sound equipment.
“We hope we never need it, but the training is necessary so that we are prepared should we ever be called to an active shooter event,” Pacunas added.
The grant period has already begun and Pacunas said he hopes to conduct the training in the next couple of months.
He added, “We are happy to receive a grant like this one. Operating with a limited budget, this grant enables us to get valuable training and long needed equipment.”
The awards were made possible by the Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program, a federal grant awarded by the Department of Justice to the state’s Office of Grants and Research.
Grant reviewers identify projects that aligned with specific priority areas including strategies to address unlawful drug use, human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, gang and gun violence, missing person cases and hate crimes.
“This program invests federal funds to make Massachusetts communities safer and stronger,” Gov. Maura Healey said, “This program allows towns and cities to identify their most pressing needs and direct funding to address those challenges. The ability of local public safety leaders to guide funds toward priority safety initiatives encourages a holistic approach to improving safety in communities with diverse needs.”
Additional priorities funded by this grant include technology upgrades, investigative tools and protective gear, school safety and security and efforts to advance racial equity and support underserved communities.