Byrne Formula Grant Program
Through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Lebanon Police Department received $116,390 in 2009 from The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program (Byrne Formula Grant Program), which is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. These grants may be used for personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for more widespread apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of offenders who violate state and local laws. The Byrne Formula Grant Program was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
About Officer Edward Byrne
Edward Byrne was born on February 21, 1966. In 1986, he became a New York City Transit Police Officer to help ensure the safety of New York City’s subway commuters. In 1987, Officer Byrne joined the New York City Police Department.
In the early morning hours of February 26, 1988, Officer Byrne was carrying out his assignment of protecting a witness who had agreed to testify in court against local drug dealers. Officer Byrne was in his patrol car outside the witness’ home around 3:30am when two armed gunmen crept up to his car from both sides. One of the men knocked on the passenger-side window to distract Officer Byrne while a second perpetrator ran to the driver’s side window and, without making a sound, open fired. Officer Byrne was shot five times in the head. Both gunmen, along with two other perpetrators who served as lookouts, fled the scene. Officer Byrne was rushed to Mary Immaculate Hospital where he died of his wounds at the young age of 22.
All four perpetrators were captured six days after the murder and were later sentenced to 25 years to life. They were members of a gang who had been instructed by a jailed drug kingpin to kill a police officer.
It has been nearly 25 years since state and local law enforcement first began applying for the program named after this young fallen hero.
COPS Hiring Program Grant
The most recent grant awarded to the Lebanon Police Department was the COPS grant, awarded in 2010. This grant is allocated to the retention of four police officers who otherwise would have been laid off. The Lebanon Police Department actively seeks additional funding in grants through the federal government to supplement local funds.
