Video above: Your Friday headlines ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia will spend $100 million in federal COVID-19 funds to strengthen policing and reduce violence, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday. Local authorities can request up to $1.5 million a piece if they can show that violent gun crime and other violent crimes have worsened in their communities during the pandemic. State authorities cannot apply. TREND STORIES Department of Health and Human Services Confirms 3 Georgia Children Test Positive for Monkeypox Savannah Veteran Who Was Once Homeless Receives Brand New Car During USA Birthday Celebration , I’m sending reinforcements to those on the front lines to help with recruiting and retention, to help with crime control, violence intervention, and equipment and technology,” Republican Kemp said in a statement. “I look forward to the positive impact these investments will have and expect local governments to make full use of these available funds to lead the fight against criminals.” This is the third announcement Kemp has made in the last few days has to spend federal funds on pandemic relief he is running for re-election with more likely to come. The announcements infuriate Democrats, who say Kemp is using money he opposed to improve his chances against Democrat Stacey Abrams. “Again, Brian Kemp is resorting to funds provided by the US Democratic bailout plan, which he described as ‘a slap in the face to hard-working Georgians’ and called on Georgian US senators to oppose it,” the spokesman said Democratic Party, Max Flugrath, in a statement. Kemp has hammered Abrams on the stump and in the ad, claiming that her testimonies and her membership on the boards of the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund and the Marguerite Casey Foundation show her preference for defunding the police force. Abrams says she doesn’t support police defunding. In a public safety plan released in June, Abrams said she does support increasing police funding and proposed increasing the starting salary for state troop cadets, prison guards and juvenile justice officers to $50,000, which would add up to $182 million over two years US dollars would amount. Abrams was also calling for $25 million in grants to increase officers’ pay and subsidize housing, requiring local agencies to adopt state best practices to be eligible. While Kemp touts his “back the blue” stance, state documents make it clear that much of the money could go to other programs aimed at reducing Abrams-sponsored violence. One use of the grants announced Thursday would be to reinstate public safety positions that were axed or vacant between January 2020 and March 2021. Agencies could also hire more officers than they did before the pandemic if they meet certain federal qualifications. The money They may also opt for things like hiring outreach workers to try to persuade people prone to violence to choose other avenues of solving their problems, according to a document released by the state’s Planning and Budget Office . For example, some hospital programs reach out to shooting victims and their families and friends to discourage them from seeking revenge. Abrams supports violence intervention programs in her plan. The grant document also highlights programs that respond to specific police calls with mental health professionals and other non-police personnel. The Georgia legislature passed legislation this year requiring the state’s 23 nonprofit agencies to provide mental health co-responders to any local law enforcement agency that desires them, and the grants could fund that program. The grants could also be used to pay for equipment and technology that will enable police to respond to increases in gun violence. Applications are due on November 18, and state officials are likely to decide who will receive the money in January. Funds must be spent by October 31, 2026.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia will spend $100 million in federal COVID-19 funds to strengthen policing and reduce violence, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.
Local authorities can apply for up to $1.5 million apiece if they can show acts of violence and other violent crimes have worsened in their communities during the pandemic. Government agencies cannot apply.
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“With these funds, I am sending reinforcements to the frontlines to assist with recruiting and retention, crime control, violence intervention, and equipment and technology,” Republican Kemp said in a statement. “I look forward to the positive impact these investments will have and expect local governments to make full use of these available funds to lead the fight against the criminals.”
It’s the third announcement of spending federal funds on pandemic relief Kemp has made in recent days as he’s running for re-election, which is more likely to come. The announcements infuriate Democrats, who say Kemp is using money he opposed to improve his chances against Democrat Stacey Abrams.
“Again, Brian Kemp is resorting to funds provided by the US Democratic bailout plan, which he described as ‘a slap in the face to hard-working Georgians’ and called on Georgian US senators to oppose it,” the spokesman said Democratic Party, Max Flugrath, in a statement.
Kemp has hammered Abrams on the stump and in the ad, claiming that her testimonies and her membership on the boards of the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund and the Marguerite Casey Foundation show her preference for defunding the police force. Abrams says she doesn’t support police defunding. In a public safety plan released in June, Abrams said she actually supports increasing police funding and proposed increasing starting salaries for state troop cadets, prison guards and juvenile justice officers to $50,000, at a cost of $182 million means more than two years.
Abrams also called for $25 million in grants to increase officers’ salaries and subsidize housing, saying local agencies would need to adopt state best practices to be eligible.
Kemp introduced certifications from 102 of Georgia’s 159 sheriffs in June and was confirmed by the Fraternal Order of Police on Thursday. While Kemp touts his “back the blue” stance, state documents make it clear that much of the money could go to other programs aimed at reducing Abrams-sponsored violence.
One use of the grants announced Thursday would be to reinstate public safety positions that were axed or vacant between January 2020 and March 2021. Agencies could also hire more officers than they did before the pandemic if they meet certain federal qualifications.
The money can also be used for things like hiring outreach workers to try to persuade violent people to choose other avenues to solve their problems, according to a document released by the state Planning and Budget Office. For example, some hospital programs reach out to shooting victims and their families and friends to discourage them from seeking revenge. Abrams supports violence intervention programs in her plan.
The grant document also highlights programs that respond to specific police calls with mental health professionals and other non-police personnel. The Georgia legislature passed legislation this year requiring the state’s 23 municipal agencies to provide mental health co-responders to any local law enforcement agency that desires them, and the grants could fund that program.
The grants could also be used to fund equipment and technology that will enable police to respond to rising levels of gun violence.
Applications are due on November 18, and state officials are likely to decide who gets the money in January. Funds must be spent by October 31, 2026.