Bethlehem Police gifted with tech and data grant.

The Bethlehem Police Department has been granted $39,617 to update its technology and remote data access capabilities. The grant, approved by Bethlehem City Council, will enable officers to record data from their vehicles, rather than being restricted to accessing information at the station. The funds will be used to repurchase mobile data terminals (MDTs), update software programs, and improve document organization and retrieval. Bryan Callahan, a member of the city council, voted in favor of the grant, stating that the funds will help increase safety in Bethlehem.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, named after a New York City police officer who was killed in the line of duty, has provided over $7.6 billion to local and state law enforcement agencies over the past 19 years. The amount of grant money given depends on performance metrics and crime rates in the specific area. The grant is intended to enable police officers to work with the most up-to-date technology, improving research capabilities and communication with the station.

Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds praised the efforts of the Bethlehem Police Department, stating that the department is doing better than any other city around. He also emphasized the importance of federal grant funds in achieving the city’s safety goals. The grant will help the department utilize technology to improve citizen safety by continuously upgrading hardware and software.