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DOJ Giving $2.5 Million to Newtown to ‘Bring Healing’ to Community

Grants follow Sandy Hook shooting

AP
August 28, 2013

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday that the Justice Department is giving Newtown, Conn. $2.5 million to compensate for the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Over eight months since Adam Lanza killed 20 children and six staff members at the school on Dec. 14, 2012, Holder said the funding will "bring healing to a community that’s been devastated."

Grants will be awarded to the Connecticut State Police ($663,444), Town of Newtown ($602,293), Town of Monroe ($882,812), and other partner agencies ($296,836), which include 34 surrounding Connecticut jurisdictions.

"Providing support to the law enforcement agencies that responded to the horrific scene that awaited them at Sandy Hook Elementary School is one small action we can take to bring healing to a community that’s been devastated," Holder said.

"Just over eight months after this senseless tragedy, those who lost their lives, and those who continue to grieve, remain in our thoughts and prayers," he said.

The Justice Department said the funding would provide assistance for the costs of overtime, forensics, and security in the months following the shooting.

Senators Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) have called for the federal government to pay for building a new elementary school in Newtown.

Murphy said lawmakers "turned their backs on Newtown" when they voted against gun control measures in the Senate, but have a "second chance" to help the area if the federal government pays for the school.

"We hope senators who may have done the wrong thing when they voted against the gun legislation will do the right thing,'' Murphy said.

Sandy Hook Elementary will be demolished and replaced with a new school at its existing location, with costs estimating around $56 million.

The Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program will distribute the aid to the police departments and agencies.  The program provides states and local governments with money for law enforcement, crime prevention, drug treatment, and other initiatives.

"This critical funding will compensate the Connecticut State Police and Newtown Police Department for their tireless work investigating this crime, as well as more than two dozen police departments from across the state whose officers responded to Newtown within minutes of this horrific act and, for months, helped to provide security and comfort to a courageous community," Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly said.