GREGG ANNOUNCES SENATE APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR THREE NH LAW ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES

November 6, 2009

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today announced that the Senate has approved significant federal funding for three important New Hampshire law enforcement initiatives. The measure includes $750,000 for Operation Streetsweeper, $750,000 for the New Hampshire Drug Task Force and $300,000 for the Consolidated Advanced Technologies Laboratory (CATLab) at the University of New Hampshire. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS), Senator Gregg was able to include these funds in the Fiscal Year 2010 CJS Appropriations bill, which now heads to a joint House/Senate conference committee before returning to each chamber for final passage. Funding for these projects is included within the Committee allocation set out for Fiscal Year 2010 funding measures. A detailed description of each project is included below.

Senator Gregg stated, “Over the years, New Hampshire has consistently earned the recognition of ‘safest state in the nation’ and this is due in no small part to the dedicated work of our law enforcement officials. Our state has always been a great place to live, work and raise a family and in order to keep it that way it is important that we continue to provide our law enforcement community with the necessary tools to combat the threat of gang and drug related violence. Operation Streetsweeper and the Drug Task Force do an exceptional job working to keep gang activity and illegal drugs off our streets, and CATLab brings the latest technology to law enforcement in the Granite State. These projects are great examples of collaborative efforts that are working and truly making a difference to keep our communities safe.”

Colonel Frederick H. Booth, Director of the New Hampshire State Police, stated, “The Division of State Police is grateful for the continued efforts of Senator Gregg to seek federal assistance in the fight against illicit drug, gang and criminal activity. As the State of New Hampshire continues to see the influx of manufacturing, distributing and sale of illicit drugs and drug related paraphernalia, it is extremely important to have the support, funding and tools to fight this illegal activity. It is also a known fact that drug related crimes are often linked to the commission of other crimes being committed, either in the direct furtherance of the sale and distribution, or by drug-users seeking out means in which to financially support their illegal and addictive habits.”

“It is with most sincere thanks that I acknowledge the tremendous support that Senator Gregg has once again demonstrated for the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force,” said Michael A. Delaney, New Hampshire Attorney General. “These additional appropriations have proven vital to our ability to continue this extremely important effort. The Drug Task Force is the only narcotics enforcement organization in New Hampshire that operates statewide and includes state, county and local law enforcement all functioning within the same organization and all working towards the same goal, that of making New Hampshire a safer place. Once again, we appreciate Senator Gregg’s support.”

“The University of New Hampshire is grateful for Senator Gregg’s ongoing support of these two critical research projects,” said Jan Nisbet, senior vice provost for research at UNH. “Thanks to Senator Gregg’s leadership, we are delighted that these projects have been supported by the Senate. This new funding for CATLab will help university researchers improve data management in police vehicles and our understanding of air quality and climate change."

“Senator Gregg's support of our research on improving operations and data management in police vehicles has been invaluable and we are grateful for all of his efforts on our behalf,” said Andrew Kun, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UNH and principal investigator of the CATLab project. “CATLab brings cutting-edge technology to law enforcement agencies, in New Hampshire and around the country. CATLab’s Project54 system integrates devices in police cruisers, such as lights, the police radio and in-car computers, into a single voice-controlled system. The Project54 system also allows getting digital data to officers in the field and allows them to access this data using voice commands. The Project54 system now functions in more than 1,000 vehicles in over 180 agencies in New Hampshire.”

Operation Streetsweeper - $750,000:
In existence through federal support since Fiscal Year 1998, this collaboration among the New Hampshire State Police, other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and local New Hampshire towns and cities, works to combat gang and drug-related violence and crime throughout the state, focusing particularly on the New Hampshire / Massachusetts border and urban areas. These funds will be used to continue grants and provide operational support to law enforcement agencies.
Since 1997, Senator Gregg has secured nearly $13 million in federal funding for Operation Streetsweeper and Operation Streetsweeper Task Force.

New Hampshire Drug Task Force - $750,000:
The New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force is a statewide, multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of state, county and local law enforcement agencies and officers participating in four regional teams. As the state’s largest drug investigation unit, the Task Force supplements local law enforcement in combating street-level drug trafficking across the Granite State. Illegal drug trafficking, production, especially of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and abuse are significant concerns for New Hampshire. These funds will assist the Task Force in carrying out its mission of reducing drug trafficking, and provide training to police throughout the state on the most effective methods of investigating drug crimes.
Since 2007, Senator Gregg has secured more than $1.5 million for the New Hampshire Drug Task Force.

CATLab - $300,000:
The CATLab program is a collaboration between UNH and the New Hampshire Department of Safety to address problems with electronic devices inside police cruisers and to improve the communication ability between law enforcement officers and their headquarters. The innovations being pioneered through the project significantly enhance the information available to officers in the field, including voice recognition commands and linking law enforcement radios through computers. These innovations significantly help provide better law enforcement to communities and residents.
Since 1999, Senator Gregg has secured nearly $34 million for the CATLab program.

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