Tester Secures $361,144 to Support Montana Law Enforcement

Byrne JAG funding to train and equip Montana officers to prevent crime

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $361,144 in Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG) for cities and counties across Montana to train and equip law enforcement in order to prevent crime. Tester has been an outspoken advocate for Montana law enforcement and was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the 2022 bipartisan “omnibus” funding package which increased Byrne JAG Program funding by$190 million, including a 6 percent increase specifically to support state, local, and Tribal, criminal justice systems.

“Montana’s law enforcement always answers the call to keep our communities safe, and it’s critical that they have the training and equipment necessary to keep our state the Last Best Place,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have fought for this funding to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the necessary resources to protect Montanans, and I will continue to push for increased funding for our law enforcement agencies.”

This funding secured by Tester will be distributed to cities and counties in Montana through the Department of Justice via Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Grants. The Byrne JAG Program allows units of local government, including Tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings.

Funding for Montana cities and Counties includes:

• $123,669.00 for the Billings Police Department
• $62,922.00 for the City of Missoula
• $52,829.00 for the City of Great Falls
• $39,448.00 for the City of Helena
• $27,410.00 for Flathead County
• $20,141.00 for Butte-Silver Bow County
• $19,770.00 for the City of Bozeman
• $14,955.00 for Gallatin County

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester is a tireless advocate for increasing funding for police and making sure Montana law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep communities safe. He recently secured more than $1 billion in critical funding for local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety programs in the 2022 bipartisan “omnibus” funding package. Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the bill, which included $647.7 million for Byrne JAG Funding a $190 million increase – in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package. This included $382 million, a 6 percent increase, to support state, local, and Tribal, criminal justice systems.

Additionally, Tester is pushing for increased funding for Montana law enforcement in his bipartisan Assisting Narcotics and Trafficking Officers in Interdicting (ANTI) Drugs Act to combat drug trafficking.