MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Police Department (MTPD) and East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) have been awarded $29,865 in grant funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for school security enhancements.

The two police departments collaborated on the grant applications and applied for equipment that is compatible across agencies. This collaboration allows MTPD and ELPD to work together more seamlessly in emergency situations.

The police departments will partner with the Okemos, Haslett and East Lansing school districts to purchase emergency notification equipment. The equipment will reduce emergency response times to school buildings by notifying the police departments directly and will also ensure timely notification to school staff and officials. The goal of the grant is to create a safer school environment through technology enhancements. The objective is to purchase security equipment that will mitigate the risk of school violence as well as aid police in response to incidents of school violence.

Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that criminal justice agencies across Michigan will receive more than $6 million in federal grants to strengthen anti-drug and crime fighting efforts in the state. The funding is made possible through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program, both of which were applied for and awarded to the State of Michigan earlier this year.