Police awarded grant to fight illegal drugs

The money will be used for video equipment and canine officer equipment.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle Police Department is getting an additional $325,000 in federal aid to help fight illegal drug trafficking.
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and Sen. Arlen Specter announced this week that Congress had approved the funding through the Fiscal Year 2006 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill. The bill was passed Wednesday by the U.S. Senate and Nov. 9 by the U.S. House of Representatives. It is now awaiting President Bush's signature.
City officials say the money will likely be used to buy video equipment and more equipment for the canine officers, among other things.
Previous grant
This is the second large federal grant city police have received. A $247,000 federal grant secured by U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, earlier this year was used to buy an $82,000 firearms training simulator, which is one of 10 in the country.
The simulator allows police to train with a wireless Glock pistol through different video scenarios, as well as use it for regular target practice.
The grant also paid for new radios for all 35 officers that will allow them to use them going to and from work, a crime scene van and an automated finger print machine.
Mayor Wayne Alexander said he expects to get more federal aid to help fight drugs.
"Congresswoman Melissa Hart and Rick Santorum told me they will continue to push to get more. We'll continue to apply for more grants. We want to be a drug-free community," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com