3 Mahoning County police departments awarded state funds to help combat violence

Three police departments in Mahoning County have been awarded more than $350,000 combined in state funds to help combat violence in their communities.

Gov. Mike DeWine awarded $3.9 million to 16 local law enforcement agencies in the third round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. DeWine made the announcement during a visit to Springfield on Monday.

The Austintown Township Police Department was awarded $281,800; the Sebring Police Department was awarded $51,521; and the Milton Township Police Department will receive $18,000.

“By providing this support, we’re helping our peace officers proactively prevent violence, and we’re also helping law enforcement maintain the staffing levels they need to protect our communities,” DeWine said in the release.

The other law enforcement agencies that were awarded grants in the third round of funding are:

• Beverly Police Department, $11,833;

• Bratenahl Police Department, $89,500;

• Cadiz Police Department, $29,796;

• Cleveland Division of Police, $1,747,101;

• Coldwater Police Department, $36,600;

• Gallia County Sheriff’s Office, $109,586;

• Marietta Police Department, $228,085;

• Mentor Police Department, $186,000;

• Pomeroy Police Department, $16,933;

• Portsmouth Police Department, $280,211;

• Scioto County Sheriff’s Department, $285,424;

• Springfield Police Division, $305,206;

• Whitehall Police Department, $633,966.

In April, the Warren Police Department was awarded $218,344 in the first round of funding. The Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium, which includes the Youngstown Police Department, was awarded $130,418. The consortium also includes the Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield and Toledo police departments.

In total, the program will award about $58 million in coming months, the release states.