It Would Be Nice If All Departments Could Get The Money They Need!

Who Ever It Is That Keeps Submitting Those Grants; GOOD JOB!

Grants helping city cops

Jeffrey AldertonCumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND —

Grant money is helping city police “take a bite out of crime,” by making the streets safer for area residents these days.Domestic violence, street crime, drunken driving, sex offender registration and school bus safety are among special enforcement initiatives that are receiving extra attention by virtue of enforcement grants from a variety of sources.“All of these grants put more officers on the street to deter crime and make the streets safer while also providing assistance to victims,” said Capt. Kevin Ogle.
Every year, Cumberland Police receives various grants that supplement its $4.8 million operating budget. The department benefits from grants to combat drunken driving, to assist victims of domestic violence in conjunction with the Family Crisis Resource Center, and to monitor motorists as school buses navigate their routes before and after school.In addition, extra attention is being given to registered sex offenders as a grant enables officers to check with offenders twice a year to ensure that they are in compliance with their court-ordered registration.
Although no data was readily available concerning the number of uniformed officers that are on duty at any given time, a number of officers are working overtime in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles.“Our street crime grant from the U.S. Department of Justice puts officers in high-crime areas to monitor neighborhood activity. The officers are also there to make arrests in the event that a crime occurs in their presence,” said Ogle, adding that the $12,000 grant equates to 460 man-hours of additional enforcement.Domestic violence victims receive further assistance when a Family Crisis Resource Center legal advocate arrives at their door with a Cumberland Police officer.
“This is a first-year, $15,000 grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. This allows our officers to make weekly visits on domestic violence victims with an FCRC legal advocate to do follow-up and meet the needs of the victim,” said Ogle.“These victims are seeing the police officers ... in a different role,” Rhonda Pick, an FCRC legal advocate said.Instead of only seeing police at their door to arrest a batterer in the home, the grant money allows officers to pay more attention to the victim. An advocate and an officer visit victims after a violent incident has been reported, to assist with questions and concerns they may have, or provide referrals for assistance with social service agencies, Pick said.
They also arrange to accompany victims to the hospital or court hearings, providing needed emotional support.“It gives victims a feeling of security, because they know they’re not just on their own after the batterer has been arrested,” Lt. Brian Lepley, CPD domestic violence response team supervisor, said.
In addition to putting a spotlight on domestic violence, Cumberland Police are also giving extra attention to drunken driving enforcement, courtesy of a grant from the Western Maryland Health System.“This puts officers out on the streets on overtime to detect and apprehend drunken drivers.“It’s a very important grant that helps increase public awareness to the dangers of drinking and driving,” said Ogle. “It also lets the public see that we are out specifically looking for drunken drivers.”Ogle said the department over the years has received many grants, thanks in part to the diligence and expertise of officers specifically trained in filing applications.“We rely on the grants to do some specialized work and make equipment purchases outside of our operating budget,” he said. “But the main reason we seek these grants is to continue to target specific neighborhood problems and provide even greater service to city residents.”Ogle said the mayor and council recently approved the department to enter into a contract with the University of Maryland in the preparation of state and federal grants for law enforcement funds.“This will free up our officers that write grants to spend even more time in their patrol duties,” said Ogle. “It could lead to our department receiving even more grant money. That’s our goal.”

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.
Contact Daleen Berry at dberry@times-news.com.
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