Awards are:
n Richmond County — $72,383
n Rockingham — $45,686
n Hamlet — $24,629.
Neither Sheriff Dale Furr nor Rockingham Police Chief Robert Voorhees were aware they were to receive the money. Hamlet Police Chief John Haywood was not available for comment because he was in a city budget meeting.
Congressman Larry Kissell announced the Justice Assistance Grant funding Friday.
“These funds are meant to assist in all things justice-related, including law enforcement, crime prevention and safety education programs,” Kissell said.
While the grants are to governments, the assistance is in the realm of law enforcement.
“The safety of our communities must always be a priority,” he said. “The folks who work in local justice deserve every available dollar to better help them protect and secure the citizens of Richmond County.”
He said he was glad that stimulus money was going directly to communities.
“Helping local law enforcement is just one of the reasons I voted for the Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Kissell said.
Furr said he did not know about the grant but thought they might be able to use the money for programs like Crime Stoppers and training programs. “Especially training new people for the judicial center,” he said. “It will come in handy.”
Voorhees said he could say more about what it will be used for if he knew it was coming.
He said he would have to look at the program to see how it related to certain areas of his department.
“As tight as money is now, we are pleased to get it,” Voorhees said.
He said he will check to see if it can be used for equipment and for salaries of officers.
“We have a capital improvement wish list and five-year replacement needs which might be met with such money,” he said.
n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.
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