WATSONVILLE — A major function of any police department is not only responding to crimes that occur, but also examining if those crimes are part of any kind of trend. Now, the Watsonville Police Department has received more money for tools to dive further into crime analysis data.
The department is the recipient of a $22,285 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant — a federal program that provides municipalities funding for law enforcement programs and tools — which it will use for crime analysis software. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, whose district includes Watsonville, announced the funds in a news release Thursday.
“One of my top priorities as a Member of Congress is ensuring that our communities are safe,” Lofgren said in a statement. “That’s why I’ve been supportive of federal funding that will provide law enforcement with the tools they need to help stop crime. I’m thankful for the Watsonville Police Department, and I hope that this new software will be useful as they work around the clock to protect and serve this city.”
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, center, represents portions of South Santa Cruz County in Congress. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu file)
The software specifically will be used to assist the department in collecting and analyzing data on crime patterns, trends and hot spots. This analysis will be used to identify areas with high levels of crime and deploy limited resources to address criminal activity.
“The support provided through this grant will give the Watsonville Police Department another valuable tool to better understand crime trends in our community and where our resources are needed most,” Watsonville police Chief Brian Shab said in a statement. “By using reliable information to guide our decisions, we can focus our efforts where they will have the greatest impact and continue working toward a safer Watsonville. We are grateful to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for her continued commitment to our department and the Watsonville community.”
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, named for a New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in 1988, is a formula grant program that serves as the primary source of funds for law enforcement, criminal justice, corrections and other programs. More than $8.2 billion has been awarded to jurisdictions through the program since 2005 when it merged with the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants program.
This is the fifth consecutive grant the Watsonville Police Department has been awarded through the program, which have collectively totaled more than $111,000.