Larson Announces $1.9 Million in Federal Grants to Reduce Gun Violence, Improve Drug Treatment Programs, and Support Law Enforcement in the First District

Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced four new grants through the Department of Justice (DOJ) to aid the First District in its efforts to reduce gun violence, improve drug treatment and prevention programs, and support other law enforcement initiatives. Larson released the following statement:

“Connecticut—like so much of our nation—continues to grapple with ongoing gun violence and an epidemic of opioid and heroin addiction. I am grateful to see the DOJ has recognized the needs of our community and issued these awards to help those who need it most. We are still in dire need of commonsense, bipartisan reforms to reduce gun violence as well as robust funding to truly address the ongoing opioid crisis—and I will continue to push for both—but these awards will help keep our families and communities significantly safer.”

The First District was awarded four grants totaling approximately $1.9 million. The awards were allocated as follows:

• $1,739,316 to the Office of Policy and Management to reduce firearm violence, provide interventions for mentally ill offenders, enhance law enforcement response to heroin-related criminal activity, expand drug treatment and intervention programs, provide reintegration and risk reduction services for women offenders, enhance criminal justice system response to violent victim crimes, and provide technology improvements for local governments.
• $196,347 to the City of Hartford to increase community safety and security through the use of officer overtime to address gun violence.
• $22,213 to the Town of East Hartford to purchases supplies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing and assist officers during patrol activities.
• $14,068 to the Town of Manchester to continue the Police Activities League (PAL) Program, which keeps youth engaged in a positive program of athletic and educational enhancement.

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