September 2, 2008
Cincinnati, OH -- Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has finalized a federal grant of $1,967,566 to the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) for its crime surveillance camera initiative. The funding was included by Chabot as a line item in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
“This important funding will help to make Cincinnati a safer place to live, work and raise a family,” Chabot stated. “This investment in crime cameras will provide additional tools to Cincinnati Police so they can continue to work to reduce crime and investigate criminal acts. Reducing crime and improving safety in the city will lead to increased community investment, economic revitalization and better neighborhoods.”
Chabot worked for several years to secure the crime camera funding for the Cincinnati Police Department. In June 2006 he successfully had the local crime cameras project listed as a priority for funding in legislation passed by the House. The Senate failed to act on the legislation and Congress ended up passing a long-term Continuing Resolution to fund existing government programs for FY2007.
In 2007, Chabot again worked through the appropriations process to have the crime camera initiative listed as a priority project under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program. He was able to successfully secure $2,068,000 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Funding amounts for projects contained in the bill were later reduced by 5 percent.
The goal of the CPD crime surveillance camera project is to reduce violent crime within Cincinnati and aid in the successful prosecution of offenders. The deployment of this crime camera network will enhance the department’s ability to respond to crimes in progress, while also helping in post-incident investigations. The crime camera initiative is unrelated to so-called “red-light cameras" used in some cities to issue traffic tickets to motorists.
Chabot is also working in Congress to provide additional funding to states and local governments through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program. He has supported legislation to increase the federal grants to $1.095 billion per year and has cosponsored a bill to add $490 million in additional emergency funding for FY2008.
Chabot also announced that Talbert House has received a grant from the Department of Justice for $89,435 for their Workforce Reentry Project. The program partners with the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati and faith-based organizations to provide mentoring and employment assistance.
