The Saugus Police Department has been the recipient of state and federal grants since 1995. Government grants have made it possible to hire eight new officers between 1995 and 1997. Since 1997, the Saugus Police Department has been applying for and receiving Local Law Enforcement Block Grants that have made it possible for the Police Department to implement a Drug Enforcement Unit. This unit works with other local, state, and federal agencies to combat drug trafficking in our area. Most recently, we were ableto mark classrooms and exits in all of our public- schools, as well as obtain detailed blueprints of the high school and middle school. This was paid for through the Block Grant. Marking school exits and obtaining an accurate layout of the grounds makes it easier for our Department and other agencies to respond to a critical incident at any of these locations.

We have received additional grants for the D.A.R.E. Program; the C.O.P.S. Program; State Community Policing Grants; and the Vest Re-Imbursement Grant. The Vest Re-Imbursement Grant enabled the Department to outfit all of the officers with bulletproof vests at no expense to the Town.

The success of many of our programs has resulted from grant monies received. Lt. Hartt constantly checks with the Department of Justice to see what is available and submits the applications for funding. He also maintains all of the reports that need to be submitted for monitoring the grants.