Item No. 17.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY:SCOTT LOUGHNER, POLICE CHIEF
DATE:MAY 26, 2026
SUBJECT:FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will receive notification that the Downey Police Department has applied for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding, and if awarded, accept the $30,681 in grant funds. Grant funding would support the Department’s neighborhood preservation assignment, community education programs, and crime prevention/suppression efforts.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Receive notice that the Downey Police Department has applied for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG);and,
2. Increase the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget by $30,681 to account for these revenues and accompanying expenses, if awarded.
BACKGROUND
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program was established as a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to support efforts that enhance public safety and reduce crime. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and provides funding to state and local jurisdictions based on a statutory formula.
The JAG program is named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty in 1988. Since its creation in 2004, the program has served as a primary source of federal criminal justice funding to local agencies.
Historically, the Downey Police Department has utilized JAG funding to support enforcement activities, community education programs, and crime prevention initiatives. Over the past 10 years, the Downey Police Department has annually received $25,000 to $30,000 from the JAG program. Annual funding levels are determined by a federal allocation formula and may vary from year to year.
ANALYSIS
The Downey Police Department has submitted an application for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 JAG funding to continue supporting targeted enforcement efforts related to priority crime categories, including street robberies, auto theft, and burglary, as well as community-based prevention and education programs. While this grant is through JAG program's FY 2025-2026 budget, the funds received would apply to the City's FY 2026-2027 Budget.
There is no local match requirement associated with this grant.
The JAG program does not require formal City Council approval to submit an application. However, federal requirements provide that notification of the application be made to the City’s governing body and the public.
To be eligible for award consideration, the Downey Police Department must submit a Certification and Assurances Agreement (Attachment A) to the Bureau of Justice Assistance prior to the award decision.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Fiscal Responsibility
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
If awarded, the recommended actions will result in an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $30,681 to the Police Department’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget revenue account 11-3-5100, and split between expense accounts 11-4-2113 and 11-4-2176.
Attachments
Attachment A - FY 25 Local JAG Certification.pdf
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2025 Local Solicitation Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government On behalf of the applicant unit of local government named below, in support of that locality’s application for an award under the FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program, and further to 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a), I certify to the Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”), U.S. Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), that all of the following are true and correct:
1.I am the chief executive of the applicant unit of local government named below, and I have the authority to make the following representations on my own behalf as chief executive and on behalf of the applicant unit of local government. I understand that these representations will be relied upon as material in any OJP decision to make an award, under the application described above, to the applicant unit of local government.
2.I certify that no federal funds made available by the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above will be used to supplant local funds but will be used to increase the amounts of such funds that would, in the absence of federal funds, be made available for law enforcement activities.
3.I assure that the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was submitted for review to the governing body of the unit of local government (e.g., city council or county commission), or to an organization designated by that governing body, not less than 30 days before the date of this certification.
4.I assure that, before the date of this certification— (a) the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was made public; and (b) an opportunity to comment on that application (or amendment) was provided to citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations, to the extent applicable law or established procedure made such an opportunity available.
5.I assure that, for each fiscal year of the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above, the applicant unit of local government will maintain and report such data, records, and information (programmatic and financial), as OJP may reasonably require.
6.I have carefully reviewed 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(5), and, with respect to the programs to be funded by the award (if any), I hereby make the certification required by section 10153(a)(5), as to each of the items specified therein.
7.If the applicant named below is not the unit of local government itself, I certify that it is an instrumentality of the unit of local government and is approved to serve as the applicant and recipient of FY 2025 JAG funding on behalf of the unit of local government.
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Signature of Chief Executive of the Applicant Unit of Date of Certification Local Government
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Printed Name of Chief Executive Title of Chief Executive _
Name of Applicant Unit of Local Government
Rev. March 2026