Headlines from around the web regarding hiring, assessment and other human resource issues in public safety.

Justice Assistance Grants (JAG): Federal application period for local and state funds just announced

PoliceOne

The Federal application period for the annual state and local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) has just opened with an application deadline of August 22, 2018. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will make up to 1,147 awards to local jurisdictions totaling an estimated $84.5 million.

Video to aid in Columbia County Sheriff’s Office recruitment

The Augusta Chronicle

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office’s newest recruitment tool is a video produced by a pair of Grovetown High School students, in hopes of attracting more people to a profession having difficulty finding applicants.

Tribal Access Program Expanding

Department of Justice

The Department of Justice is expanding the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information, which provides federally-recognized tribes access to national crime information databases for both civil and criminal purposes.  Tribes interested in participating in TAP must submit the application by October 1. TAP allows tribes to more effectively serve and protect their communities by ensuring the exchange of critical data.

Police-Youth Dialogues Toolkit Provides Guide for Improving Relationships and Public Safety Through Engagement and Conversation

COPS

The Center for Court Innovation and the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office developed this toolkit as a resource for communities that wish to implement police-youth dialogues. Drawing from projects across the country that use dialogues, the toolkit consolidates expertise, providing strategies and promising practices.

Ill. lottery game to help families of fallen officers

PoliceOne

On Monday, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law that will create a new scratch-off game, funds raised from the game will help the families of LEOs killed or severely injured in the line of duty.

The value in participating in the #LipSyncChallenge and other viral crazes

PoliceOne

It’s become “a thing” with multiple mainstream media outlets picking up on the craze and reporting on their local agency’s entry into the challenge. Do they do anything to “move the needle” in reducing anti-police sentiment? Probably not (or at least, not much). But they do serve some purpose.

Citing increased danger, union for Minn. corrections officers demands higher staffing levels

Minnesota Public Radio

AFSCME Council 5 Correctional Policy Committee, the union representing corrections officers in Minnesota prisons, demanded the state hire more staff to address what it calls unsafe conditions. The union stated “assaults on staff have skyrocketed since January.”

HERO HIGHLIGHTS

Frederick County woman commends deputy, good Samaritan who came to her aid

The Frederick News-Post