State police awarded more than $2M in federal grants for public safety

Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue has announced her department has secured more than $2 million in federal public safety grants that will be used to fund overtime to review sexual assault evidence kits, enhance capabilities in responding to the increasing production and abuse of methamphetamine, and purchase a new patrol/response boat to enhance port security.

“The staff of our Grants and Community Services Division works tirelessly to identify and secure federal funding like this which helps to improve safety statewide,” said Etue.

“It is a very competitive process and their hard work has paid off again. We look forward to implementing these programs and are pleased to be able to partner with others who share our same goals.”

The awards include:

• Bureau of Justice Assistance, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).

Award amount: $999,979.

Grant details can be found at: www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=117.

This award includes funding for overtime for the MSP Forensic Science Division and the Biometrics and Identification Division to conduct technical reviews of sexual assault kits.

 It also includes funding for our partners at the local level to conduct research, in addition to conducting investigations stemming from the testing of sexual assault kits that were a part of last year’s statewide inventory initiative.

• Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP).

Award amount: $920,880.

Grant details can be found at: www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default. asp?Item=2716.

This award will allow the MSP to enhance its response to the increasing production and abuse of methamphetamine. The grant will fund three positions to support investigators, provide overtime for multijurisdictional drug teams and provide training supplies to conduct methamphetamine basic safety schools for law enforcement.

• Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

Award amount: $278,318.

Grant details can be found at: www.pdxmex.com/port-security-grant-program.

This grant award will allow the MSP to purchase a new patrol/response boat to enhance port security at the Port of Sault Ste. Marie to be used by the MSP Marine Services Team. The grant requires a 25 percent match.