ROANOKE, Va.- – A number of local law enforcement agencies are getting grant money to help improve their departments.
The Roanoke City Police Department and the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office will split $48,861 of The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award.
The Police Department will use $29,316 to offset some of the cost of replacing smart board technology at the police academy.
"The police academy does quite a bit of training for both Roanoke city and surrounding a local law enforcement. Various criminal justice related groups. Various governmental related entities. And it's using the same SmartBoard technology we've had eight years ago when the academy opened," said Lt. Jeffrey Newman, Roanoke City police.
The city Sheriff's Office will use the $19,545 to purchase additional building cameras to improve officer safety and accountability in the Roanoke City jail.
Other 2017 Virginia Local JAG Allocations for the surrounding area include: Roanoke County, Lynchburg, and Danville.