Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced a total of $143,806 in federal funding secured to support law enforcement initiatives in Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Fitchburg, and Marlborough. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program.

“Police officers across the Commonwealth go to work every day to protect our communities, and they deserve the equipment and support necessary to do their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As a proud supporter of federal programs like Byrne JAG that deliver funding directly to local police departments, I’m glad to see these awards that will better support officers in our gateway cities. I look forward to continuing my work with local police chiefs and community leaders to identify additional steps we can take to better support our local law enforcement.”

Since taking office in 2019, Trahan has consistently supported increased funding for the Byrne JAG program and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, the two main initiatives that direct federal funding to local police departments. Last year, Trahan supported legislation containing $924,061,000 in funding for the Byrne JAG program, a $377 million increase from when she first took office, and $664,516,000 for the COPS program, a $321 million increase since 2019.

The City of Lowell is receiving $37,617 for the Lowell Police Department to retain a Crime Analyst in the Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit as well as a Grant Research Analyst and a Program Manager in the Research and Development Unit.

“We are grateful to have received this award from the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program.  This funding will directly support our efforts to improve public safety in Lowell,” said Lowell City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “It’s an important step in ensuring our community remains safe, resilient, and responsive to the needs of all residents.”

The City of Lawrence is receiving $37,617 to purchase a new marked police cruiser that will help improve Lawrence Police Department response times, officer safety, and overall community trust in law enforcement.

“Being awarded the Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Grant 15 is a blessing. This grant will support the acquisition of a marked police cruiser, enhancing public safety. This achievement reflects our city's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña.

The City of Haverhill is receiving $34,493 to continue the Haverhill Police Department’s purchase of nonlethal equipment to help de-escalate situations involving volatile, aggressive, and assaultive individuals. The Haverhill Police Department used a similar investment in 2023 to begin the purchase of tasers and ballistic shields for officers.

“On behalf of the City of Haverhill and our Police Department, we are very appreciative of the federal government’s continued support to increase safety in our community. The Haverhill Police Department applies annually for this grant and this year the funding will be put towards purchasing tasers, which are proven to assist with de-escalation during use of force encounters,” said Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett.

The City of Fitchburg is receiving $19,287 to improve the Fitchburg Police Department’s officer training infrastructure and efficiency as well as to increase police presence at community events, in the downtown area, and targeted patrols in areas of increased criminal activity.

"As Mayor of Fitchburg, I want to thank Congresswoman Trahan for her collaboration and support in securing this JAG grant. These funds will make a real difference by helping us upgrade equipment in our training and roll call rooms—key spaces that keep our officers sharp and prepared. The grant will also support dedicated community policing patrols downtown and in our neighborhoods, creating more opportunities for meaningful engagement between law enforcement and residents. This kind of partnership helps us address challenges and invest in the well-being of our community,” said Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia.

The City of Marlborough is receiving $14,919 for the Marlborough Police Department to purchase new traffic cameras to assist with criminal and motor vehicle investigations. The cameras will record data that can help officers investigating retail theft, hit and run accidents, and other criminal activity.

“The City is excited and grateful to receive almost $15,000 from the Department of Justice as part of the 2024 BJA Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. In the past, this grant allowed the City to successfully purchase and replace Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), ballistic shields for active shooter situations, and replace optic sights on patrol rifles. This year’s funding will purchase new traffic cameras to assist with traffic safety and enforcement. I want to thank Congresswoman Trahan for her assistance in securing this grant, the Department of Justice for the award, and the Marlborough Police Department for their work on identifying critical needs for the department,” said Marlborough Mayor J. Christian Dumais.

###