Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday the state will provide $3 million in grants to fight Maryland's heroin epidemic.
More than $900,000 will go toward funding a heroin coordinator in law enforcement agencies in every region of the state, while more than $2 million will go to nine jurisdictions to continue the Safe Streets Initiative.
Safe Streets helps to track down and arrest violent repeat offenders, then connects those offenders struggling with substance abuse issues to treatment programs.
"Unfortunately heroin is a huge epidemic, not just here in the county, but across the state and across the country," said Captain lee Dunbar of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
Dunbar said he's seen his share of heroin related issues and deaths.
"It's about a 30-40 percent increase to where we were last year," he said. "Other jurisdictions that we work with often and share information with some of them are 100 percent more than where they were last year."Dun
Dunbar said the money will help overtime expenditures and help the department target offenders. He also said the money will help with interagency coordination.
"Having this around the state and other major jurisdictions can help us communicate better and better target those drug trafficking organizations," Dunbar said.
Both programs support the recommendations of the governor's Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force.
The funding has been awarded to the following law enforcement agencies:
- Cumberland Police Department Heroin Coordinator $84,180
- Anne Arundel County Police Department Headquarters Heroin Coordinator $69,100
- Baltimore County Police Department Heroin Coordinator $57,345
- Calvert County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $38,000
- Cecil County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Facility Heroin Coordinator $59,641
- Charles County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $50,000
- Dorchester County Council Heroin Coordinator $42,000
- Frederick City Police Department Heroin Coordinator $63,000
- Garrett County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $20,000
- Harford County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $73,304
- Howard County Police Department Heroin Coordinator $69,624
- Kent County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $32,000
- Montgomery County Police Department Heroin Coordinator $35,000
- St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $31,441
- Talbot County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $30,000
- Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Heroin Coordinator $49,088
- Worcester County Board of County Commissioners Heroin Coordinator $67,648
- Statewide Maryland State Police Heroin Coordinator $60,000
For the Safe Streets program:
- Annapolis City Police Department $345,147
- Anne Arundel County $289,807
- Cumberland Police Department $220,000
- Dorchester Community Partnership $164,080
- Frederick City Police Department $232,366
- Hagerstown Police Department $161,024
- Harford County Sheriff's Office $207,000
- Maryland State Police/Cecil County $203,000
- Salisbury Police Department $247,973
