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Date: 12/18/2023
HARDWICK — The Hardwick Police Department was among 130 departments statewide that received justice assistance grants to support their public safety functions, the state recently announced.
Run by the U.S. Department of Justice and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, the Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program is designed to provide funds for specific public safety opportunities, according to the Healey-Driscoll administration’s announcement.
The Hardwick Police Department applies to the JAG program every year, Lt. Kevin Landine said, stating that the funds “could be necessary” to funding the department’s equipment. He emphasized that the state funds are helpful in allowing the department to operate, as they receive minimal other funding.
This year, Hardwick will use its awarded $35,126.58 to purchase entry kits and three portable radios, Landine said. He stated that the entry kits assist with entering a house or school in an emergency, and with the use of JAG funds, the equipment will come at no cost to the town or department. The funds were recently released to the department on Dec. 4 or 5, Landine said.
Prior to the departments receiving the funds, the JAG money was first awarded to the Office of Grants and Research by the Department of Justice before it was divided by the OGR to applicants. This year, the OGR awarded 130 stations with almost $5 million, the state said.
Each department utilizes the awarded grant funds for a specific purpose, which they note in their application sent in the beginning of the year. Since the funds are awarded through a grant, they can only be used for the noted purposes, Landine explained.
Nearby towns Monson and Brimfield were also awarded funds from the JAG program, receiving $17,034.26 and $48,429.33 respectively.