Baker-Polito Administration Awards over $3 Million for Municipal Public Safety Staffing

Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Public Safety Secretary Daniel Bennett announced that 14 police and fire departments have received $3,015,000.00 in state grants to assist municipalities in maintaining public safety and emergency response core services. These funds may be used to restore, retain or hire police and fire personnel or for overtime if needed to provide adequate shift coverage to maintain appropriate staffing levels.

“Our administration values the work that our public safety partners perform each day in cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through these funds, we are pleased to support the essential role that local law enforcement plays in making Massachusetts a safer state for all.”

“Support through the MUNI program allows our partners in local law enforcement to effectively carry out the vital roles they take on every day,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud to award this year’s grants to help cities and towns in Massachusetts better serve their residents by maintaining their public safety staffing needs,”

The Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant (MUNI) program assists eligible municipalities to maintain public safety and emergency response services by helping them address police and/or fire department staffing necessities. Nine municipalities submitted applications on behalf of their police departments and five municipalities also requested funding for their fire departments.

“The job of providing for the public’s safety is hard enough and these grants are intended to make it easier for communities to carry out those responsibilities by removing some of the uncertainties that arise from the budgeting process,” said Secretary Bennett.

The following agencies have received award from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security:

City                            Police                                   Fire                             Award Total

Brockton                  $150,000.00                       $100,000.00           $250,000.00

Fall River                  $476,000.00                       $440,000.00           $916,000.00

Framingham           $40,000.00                          N/A                            $40,000.00 

Haverhill                 $205,000.00                       N/A                            $205,000.00

Lawrence                 $700,000.00                       N/A                            $700,000.00

Lowell                       $106,000.00                       $50,000.00              $156,000.00

Lynn                           $400,000.00                       N/A                            $400,000.00

Malden                     $150,000.00                       $100,000.00           $250,000.00

Somerville               $38,000.00                          $60,000.00              $98,000.00

Total                          $2,265,000.00                   $750,000.00           $3,015,000.00