Full announcement from the Asheville Police Department:

ASHEVILLE - The City of Asheville is applying for funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) 2012 Local Solicitation program. This US Department of Justice funding is provided to enhance partnerships between federal, state and local governments to create safer communities through preventing or reducing crime and violence.

The grant awards funds to local governments for equipment, training, technical assistance, information systems and supplies to enhance local law enforcement.
The Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office are jointly applying for $56,927.

The Asheville Police Department plans to use the grant funds, if awarded, to enhance our in-car video system by purchasing cameras and related equipment. This would aid evidence collection in traffic related incidents, enhance officer and public safety, and advance the Asheville City Council’s Goal of Safe and Fiscal Responsibility. This equipment and funding would aid making Asheville one of the safest cities and reduce the strain on the city’s fiscal budget.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office plans to use its portion of the grant to purchase a “throwbot” type robotic mobile surveillance system to enhance officer safety. The deployment method of this type of robotic surveillance system enables deployment in areas and situations where a traditional robotic device will not work. Additional funding will be used to purchase digital imagery equipment and TASER electronic control devices.

Citizens can submit input on the grant by contacting Captain Wade Wood in the Asheville Police Department’s Administrative Division at (828) 259-5885 or at wwood@ashevillenc.gov.
More information is also available at:
https://www.bja.gov/Funding/12JAGLocalSol.pdf