Montgomery County Police Department received a $500,000 federal grant to fight opioid and firearms crimes.
Police intend to use the grant to work faster and with greater efficiency and to stay updated on advancements in forensic science, according to a news release.
“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 Executive Marc Elrich in a news release.
“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,” Elrich said.
The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. It will provide the forensic crime lab with equipment including a mass spectrometer, a high-capacity virtual microscopy scanner with analysis software and employment of a contracted firearms/toolmark examiner.
“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 Police Chief Marcus 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.”
