The City of Milford published a public notice that the Milford Police Department notified would be applying for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), a requirement under the application process. The department has applied for and received the grant in previous years. The item is on the agenda for the July 27 council meeting.
“Public notice is hereby given that the City of Milford will be submitting an application for funding for the 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grant/Byrne Discretionary Grant Program in the amount of $435,000,” the public announcement reads. “This funding will be used to purchase an emergency response vehicle.”
There is no public hearing on the agenda item at city council. However, as at every council meeting, there is a 15-minute public comment portion at the start of the meeting where residents are able to provide input into city matters or express concerns.
The grant is named for Officer Edward R. Byrne, a New York City police officer who joined that force in 1987 after serving with the New York City Transit Authority. In the early morning hours of February 26, 1988, Officer Byrne was protecting a witness who was to testify against local drug dealers. Two armed gunmen crept up to his car on both sides and, while one tapped on the window to distract Officer Byrne, the other opened fire, shooting the officer five times. Officer Byrne died of his injuries at only 22 years old. The perpetrators were captured and sentenced to 25 years to life. In his memory, the Bureau of Justice Assistance administers the Byrne award to communities nationwide.
The JAG program provides critical funding to support law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention, education and more. No matching funds are required for the grant which is administered by the federal government.
Emergency response vehicles are not police cars. They are specialized vehicles that include advanced communication systems, mobility features and specialized medical equipment. They are used for multiple life-threatening situations including traffic control, surveillance, hostage situations and detaining subjects.
