Northwest Missouri Receives Over $850,000 in Byrne
Formula Grants
JEFFERSON CITY, July 8, 2005—Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is
pleased to announce the award of over $850,000 in Byrne Formula Grants
to five northwestern Missouri anti-drug task forces or programs. The
grant program funds are administered by the Missouri Department of
Public Safety and are made possible through the U.S. Dept. of Justice,
Bureau of Justice Assistance.
In June, Gov. Blunt signed the first-ever
comprehensive meth bill, which seeks to keep key ingredients to making
the drug out of the hands of meth-makers. Gov. Blunt continues his pledge to fight Missouri's meth epidemic
with the announcement of today grants.
“I commend the work of the Northwest Missouri anti-drug and crime programs,"
Blunt said. “These grant awards show that groups effective in anti-drug
and crime efforts will be supported and rewarded by the Department
of Public Safety and the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice
Assistance.”
Buchanan County will receive $365,461
for its Drug Strike Force and $42,000 for its Video Arraignment System,
the City of Cameron in Dekalb Co. will receive $144,811.50 for the
Nitro Drug Task Force, Platte Co. will receive $202,737.65 for the
Platte County Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Group, and the City
of Richmond in Ray County will receive $104,739 for the North Central
MO Drug Task Force.
Drug Task Forces (DTFs) provide trained law enforcement personnel
to work in conjunction with Missouri law enforcement agencies as well
as state and federal agencies. Together they investigate and assist
in the prosecution of those who manufacture, distribute and transport
illegal narcotics in Northwest Missouri.
In 2004, there were 2,788 methamphetamine
laboratory incidents across the state. The Missouri State Highway
Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control alone cited 537 methamphetamine
laboratory incidents. Incidents include laboratory seizures and dump
sites, or places where empty containers of meth-making ingredients
and tools are found. Even with increased efforts to investigate and
seize meth labs, statistics for this year are on track with 2004.
From January through April of 2005, there have been 1,322 meth lab
incidents statewide, 200 of which were investigated by the Highway
Patrol.
The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force operates with
the primary goal of arresting and convicting drug manufacturers and
dealers. The force relies on community tips through Suspected Drug
Activity reports and the Crime Stoppers Hotline.
Buchanan County’s Video Arraignment
System is unique in that it increases the speed and safety of
the processing of criminal arraignments for all arrested persons in
the county. The system allows those in the courtroom to communicate
through broadcast conference with the jailed offender. It eliminates
the possibility of having dangerous offenders escape, and provides
a less hostile environment for victims and witnesses in the courtroom.
The NITRO
Drug Task Force operates under ATF guidelines and focuses on meth-related
activity and armed violent offenders. NITRO assists local law enforcement
with their drug investigations and provides certified meth lab technicians.
The Platte
County Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Group serves all incorporated
and unincorporated areas of Platte County by identifying, investigating
and prosecuting persons involved in illegal drug activity.
The North
Central MO Drug Task Force works with local, state and federal
agencies to cut down on illegal drug use, especially meth, in their
area. The DTF also provides drug awareness education to law officers
and community members.
The Byrne Formula Grants require a 25 percent agency match
for each award. Buchanan Co. will match a total of $ 135,820 of their
funds to the award, the Nitro DTF will match $ 48,270.50, the Platte
Co. Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Group will match $ 67,579.21,
and the North Central MO Drug Task Force will match $ 34,913 to their
award. Missouri will administer a total of $ 9,501,569.13 in Byrne
Formula Grants to agencies for programs throughout the state.
The programs funded through (CJLE) identify
state and local initiatives which assist the state in the enforcement
of drug control, or controlled substance laws, initiatives which emphasize
the prevention of control of violent crime and serious offenders,
and initiatives which improve the effectiveness of the state and local
criminal justice system
For more information about the Criminal
Justice/Law Enforcement Program or the Edward Byrne Formula Grant
funds in this area or around the state, please contact the Missouri
Department of Public Safety, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Program
at (573) 751-4905.