Police Department Federal & State Grants
The Patrol Division applies for and receives numerous grants to assist our efforts of making Decatur a safer place to live and work. The procurement and maintenance of the grants are often very time consuming and complicated, but the benefit of receiving the much needed equipment and manpower is well worth everyone’s efforts.
Judicial Administrative Grant (JAG)
The Patrol Division receives funding from the JAG grant which is used to reimburse bike patrol overtime. Bike patrol officers teamed with Anti-Crime Team (ACT) members and K-9 Units engage in proactive enforcement and community policing in the high crime neighborhoods. This funding has greatly attributed the overall success of Operation Rolling Thunder 2007, Operation Sabre Strike 2008, Operation Sledge Hammer in 2009 and Operation Mongoose in 2010.
Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant
The Decatur Police Department Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant assists in the funding of the Department’s Anti-Crime Team (ACT). The U.S. Attorney assisted the Decatur Police Department in obtaining the grant and recognizes our well-developed initiative to address violent crime issues. The current year’s funding helped purchase two Overt Video Surveillance Systems. One system is located at Calhoun/Main and the other at Johns/Maffit.
Weed and Seed Grant
The Decatur Police Department receives funding from the Weed and Seed grant for equipment needs and overtime reimbursement of the Anti-Crime Team (ACT). Approximately half the funding is allotted for overtime reimbursement and the other half is allocated to purchase much needed equipment. Five Overt Video Surveillance Systems have been purchased and installed in the Weed and Seed area. The five locations are; Leafland/ Union, Leafland/College, Marietta/Edward, Marietta/Van Dyke, and Division/Union. The Overt Video Surveillance Systems are very popular with the neighborhood residents and are a priority for the department.
Domestic Violence Grant
The Macon County State's Attorney's Office currently receives a Domestic Violence grant. With some of these funds, the State's Attorney's Office provides reimbursement for Decatur Police Officer to conduct additional follow up work on domestic battery, domestic violence and order of protection cases which occur in the City of Decatur.
Illinois Department of Transportation
For several years, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) provided the Decatur Police Department with a Speed Enforcement Grant (SEP). The grant allowed for reimbursement of six months of increased traffic (speed) enforcement in four high accident locations within the City of Decatur. The SEP grant is currently not in operation but on duty speed enforcement continues in the four areas.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) continues to provide the Decatur Police Department with an IMAGE grant. The grant allows for reimbursement of six holiday campaigns to reduce motor vehicle accidents, focusing on impaired driving and seatbelt enforcement. The five holiday campaigns last for several weeks each and include; St. Patrick’s’ Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/New Years.
The Department also applied for and received the Local Alcohol Program (LAP) grant to reimburse the City of Decatur the cost of one full time officer to conduct DUI enforcement. The reimbursement includes the cost of salary, pension, health benefits, and fuel. This grant began in October 2009.