Department of Police
Reference: FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Lieutenant Nick Struck
Date Prepared: August 22, 2026
PURPOSE
To inform Council of the recommended acceptance of the FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and the intention of using awarded JAG funds for the purchase of Flock Safety Cameras.
BACKGROUND
The Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to states and units of local government. Through this opportunity, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will award JAG program funds to eligible units of local government as described in the FY 2025 JAG Program Local Solicitation.
The program is designed to reduce violent crime through the purchase of technology to identify vehicles that are stolen, or vehicles driven by a suspect after a violent crime. The funds are to be used for Law Enforcement Activity Equipment Purchases.
The Police Department is recommending accepting grant funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to purchase Flock Safety Falcon cameras. The Flock Safety cameras are purchased on an annual subscription. The funds from JAG will be used to continue the current usage of the cameras, which has contributed to a decrease in certain crime categories. These resources are needed to help solve crime and increase our case closure rate. This equipment falls under the “Purposes for Which Funds Awarded the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) Program May Be Used - 34 U.S.C. § 10152 (a)(1)” JAG Program funds may be used;
(A) Law Enforcement programs. - page 1
(A)(iii) [p]rocuring equipment, technology, and other material directly related to basic law enforcement functions.”
The police department would continue to use its 8 Flock cameras: 1 mobile and 7 fixed cameras. The purchase of the cameras allows access to the network of Flock cameras, when approved by participating organizations. This network can aid in the identification of vehicles involved in criminal activity and can help in locating suspects. This reduces the amount of time spent searching for a suspect and thereby reducing the time it takes to solve a crime. This equipment is also consistent with equipment and technology being used by surrounding jurisdictions which increases collaboration and solvability of complex crimes which we know are not bound by jurisdictional borders.
The cameras also use a technology called Vehicle Fingerprint. This allows an officer to enter a vehicle description when a plate is not known, and the system will search for vehicles in a particular area matching that description. The data is CIJIS compliant, and the use of the technology gives real-time alerts to NCIC entries as well as local stolen vehicles.
One mobile camera is placed on an existing Speed Radar Trailer. This provides the ability to move the camera to an area where there has been an increase in crime.
The Brighton Police Department plans to use the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY2025 funds in the project year of January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. All the funds would be used to purchase this equipment with continued use of the cameras. The grant pays for a portion of the annual cost of the Flock cameras, with the remaining costs ($11,537.00) coming from asset forfeiture funds.
The grant of $12,963.00 was awarded to Brighton PD on July 31, 2026 (Award Number 15PBJA-25-GG-02817-JAGX) pending approval of City Council and leadership. The grant acceptance is contingent on an opportunity for public comment and will also be on the City Council Agenda on September 15, 2026.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) typically announces the Federal JAG grant in August of the year prior to funding, with awards issued near the beginning of the following year. However, the federal government shutdown in 2025 delayed the FY2025 grant announcement, and the grant was not opened until April 2026. We applied early once the grant became available. As a result, the FY2025 grant appears to be funded in 2026, creating what may seem like an unusual year designation; this timing is a result of the federal government shutdown and the resulting delay in the grant cycle.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This grant is not a matching grant and there is no additional funding required by the city. All the money requested and allotted for the city is used for the purchase of the cameras.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Approve the acceptance of the FY25 Edward Byrne Jag Grant to be used for a portion of the annual subscription costs related to Flock ALPR cameras at the September 15, 2026, City Council Meeting
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
1) Flock Safety Impact Study - How many crimes do automated license plate readers (ALPRs) solve, anyway?
2) Privacy Commitment
3) FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Local Allocations - Colorado
4) FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) NOFO
5) Certifications and Assurances of Local Authority
6) Pre-Acceptance Award Package
7) Award Details FAW - 191230
8) BPD ALPR FAQ