Montgomery County’s Police Department (MCPD) recently was awarded a $499,993 competitive federal grant to address opioid epidemic and firearm-related challenges. The funding will enable MCPD to handle cases with greater efficiency, process evidence more quickly and stay updated on advancements in forensic science.
“One of the reasons I advocated for the establishment of our new Office of Grants Management was to more aggressively go after and win competitive grants such as this Department of Justice grant that will assist the Montgomery County Police Department’s forensic crime lab to more quickly and effectively solve crimes,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am grateful to the Department of Justice for this funding opportunity and applaud our Office of Grants Management and the Police Department for their work in securing these competitive funds. Investing in state-of-the-art technology is an important component of our public safety efforts. We are going to see improved results and quicker turnaround time from our crime lab due to us securing this important competitive grant.”
The grant was awarded to MCPD by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. It will provide MCPD's forensic crime lab with essential equipment including a mass spectrometer, a high-capacity virtual microscopy scanner with analysis software and employment of a contracted firearms/toolmark examiner.
Police Chief Marcus Jones said the grant will have a major impact on the department’s ability to solve crimes and make the County safer.
“By securing this grant, the Montgomery County Police Department's forensic crime lab is poised to make significant strides in addressing the challenges posed by the opioid epidemic and gun crimes,” said Chief Jones. “This strategic investment will not only reduce case load backlogs, but also will bolster our ability to solve crimes, prevent drug-related deaths and create a safer community for all County residents.”
Republished courtesy of MCPD