Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) announced today that the City of Federal Way was awarded a grant through the Department of Justice to purchase information technology to help streamline administrative and clerical duties for law enforcement officers, giving them more time to patrol local streets and neighborhoods.   
“This grant will provide critical support to Federal Way’s law enforcement personnel and help give them the tools they need to fight crime more effectively,” Smith said.  “As a former prosecutor, I've seen firsthand the devastating impact crime has on communities and this is one of the ways Congress can be an effective partner with local and state law enforcement to combat crime.  This was a very competitive grant process and in receiving the award Federal Way successfully demonstrated both their vision for more effective community policing and the compelling need for strengthened law enforcement in the area to ensure the safety and well-being of our families.” 

The grant was awarded through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Making Officer Redeployment Effective (MORE) program, created under the 1994 Crime Bill.  Federal Way received $138,900 to purchase department computers, mobile computing units, computer-aided dispatch systems, automated booking and automated fingerprint identification systems.  The grant will help the Federal Way Police Department address officer safety issues and improve services they provide to the community.