State Representative Michael J. Soter recently announced that five communities within his district—Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Medway, and Uxbridge—have been awarded a combined total of $102,338 through the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, including $18,000 to the Medway Police Department. 

The JAG Program, which is administered in Massachusetts by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants & Research (OGR), provides critical funding and seed money to support a broad range of activities aimed at preventing and controlling crime based on local needs and conditions. These funds will be used by the local police departments to support areas such as law enforcement, prevention and education programs, and technology improvement programs.

The total awards secured by the five towns are:

Bellingham PD: $30,000

Uxbridge PD: $30,000

Medway PDt: $18,000

Millville PD: $12,738

Blackstone PD: $11,600

Representative Soter emphasized the critical importance of these funds in supporting local public safety operations. “Bringing home over $102,000 in assistance for our local police departments is a major victory for our district,” said Soter. “This funding ensures that Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Medway, and Uxbridge can invest directly in the specialized equipment, technology, and prevention efforts necessary to enhance public safety, without imposing a burden on local taxpayers.”

Medway Police Chief William Kingsbury also underscored the transformative potential of the grant. “We are excited that the Medway Police Department has received a technology grant through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program,” said Kingsbury. “The funds awarded will be used to expand and improve real-time public safety emergency response capabilities, as well as to enhance our investigative capabilities. I want to thank Governor Maura Healey, Secretary Susan Terry, and our legislative delegation, including Senator Karen Spilka and Representatives Mike Soter and Jeff Roy, for their support of this program.”