Montgomery County has received nearly $2.25 million in federal and state grant funding to expand law enforcement capacity, strengthen crisis response, and enhance technology used to combat illegal gun violence.
The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s FY2025 COPS Hiring Program through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)’s State Crisis Intervention Program
“These awards reaffirm that Montgomery County is leading the way in smart, community-focused public safety,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton. “By combining cutting-edge technology with compassionate crisis response and a stronger law enforcement workforce, we’re building a safer and more resilient Montgomery County for all residents.”
Under the grants, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will receive $1,249,480 through the DOJ’s COPS Hiring Program to hire 10 additional deputies. The move is expected to increase patrol coverage and improve community policing efforts across the county.
“This investment strengthens our ability to be proactive rather than reactive,” said Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. “With more deputies in the field and the latest tools at their disposal, our team can focus on reducing violent crime, connecting with residents, and protecting every corner of Montgomery County.”
The county also previously received $1 million through ADECA for a multi-agency initiative targeting gun violence reduction and improved behavioral health crisis response.
Partners in the initiative include the sheriff’s office, district attorney’s office, Carastar Health, Montgomery Police Department, and a local university partner.
The initiative will integrate advanced law enforcement technology including AXON Justice Software, the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), pole cameras, and license plate recognition. It will also expand mental health crisis response through Carastar’s mobile crisis team, with university researchers evaluating its impact.
These grants align with local efforts including the VirTra De-escalation Training System, quarterly Crisis Intervention Team training for officers and partners, and monthly firearms familiarization classes for the public.
County officials say the combined initiatives are designed to build trust and transparency while reducing gun-related incidents, improving response times, and increasing mental health crisis intervention, reflecting a long-term commitment to modernizing public safety and strengthening community partnerships across Montgomery County.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
