Gov. Brian Kemp has announced more than $4 million in grant funding for area law enforcement agencies.
The grants, to the Richmond and Burke County sheriff’s offices and Richmond County Marshal’s office, are part of an $83.5 million package of public safety grants awarded to 118 qualified projects from Georgia’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“Public safety has always been a top priority of my administration and will continue to be,” Kemp said in a statement. “From tackling staffing needs to deploying new equipment and technology, these funds are being invested so that our brave first responders have the resources they need to fight back against dangerous criminals.”
The Richmond County grants focus on technology and equipment. They include include $1.6 million for the Richmond County Marshal’s Office to purchase security screening equipment for the Augusta Judicial Center and John H. Ruffin Courthouse.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $970,393 for new body-worn cameras, as well as $284,625 to implement public safety technology and “proactive policing to combat gun violence,” according to the governor’s office.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $1.3 million to create a comprehensive youth violent crime reduction and prevention program.
The latest round of grants follows the recent announcement of nearly $10 million for Augusta-area parks and youth facilities.
