Greene, Jasper counties get law enforcement grants

Law enforcement agencies in Greene and Jasper counties are getting more than $210,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice's Byrne Memorial Assistance Grant Program.

The Springfield Police Department will receive more than $92,000 to help fund the continued replacement of its record management and field reporting system, while the Greene County Sheriff's Department is getting $61,400 to equip a forensic evidence vehicle.

"We are grateful for the funds we received from the Byrne grants when we are hurting as bad as we are," Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe said in a news release. "These grants give us the ability to purchase the technology and materials we need to have to keep our personnel on the street."

In the Joplin area, the Jasper County Sheriff's office will get a $46,132 grant to purchase a replacement generator, and the Joplin Police Department is receiving $11,500 for improvements to the city jail's work-release program.

The Byrne grant program supports law enforcement activities ranging from personnel and equipment to technology upgrades, as well as prosecution, courts, and victim and witness protection efforts.