UTICA - The City of Utica has secured $100,000 in State funding with Senator Joseph Griffo's efforts for the Utica Police Department's drug enforcement programs, Metro and Metro/Taser.

This funding will be used for the purchase of equipment and to cover other expenses to assist this program in achieving its goals of combating drug crime in Utica.

"Utica has been fighting hard to stop drugs in our community, and there's still a lot of work to do," Mayor David Roefaro said. "It isn't something we hear about each day, but fighting drugs is something we do around the clock. In fact, this year our metro program has already been responsible for over 150 warrants in the fight against drugs. This additional funding will help us meet more needs, engage in larger scale operations, and stop drugs at the supplier level."

"Utica has been at the forefront in keeping violent and drug crime down in its streets," added Senator Griffo. "Mayor Roefaro and Public Safety Commissioner Daniel LaBella have met challenges in keeping the city's streets safe. Today's announcement helps support their effort sand the hard work that the men and women of the police force put in daily."

New York State has federal funds available from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). These funds are appropriated under the 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, Title VI (State and Local Narcotics Control and Justice Assistance Improvements).

This grant program is named after New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne who was murdered by drug dealers. The Byrne Program, created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 emphasizes the reduction of violent and drug-related crimes and fosters multi-jurisdictional efforts to support national drug control priorities.

The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. BJA is authorized to award grants to states for use by states and units of local government to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system - with emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders - and enforce state and local laws that establish offenses similar to those in the federal Controlled Substances Act.