Overview:
The purpose of the Law Enforcement Tribute Act is to provide one-time grants to help eligible jurisdictions complete permanent tributes to honor the men and women of law enforcement and public safety who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Many states, counties, municipalities, and Indian tribes have undertaken various projects and efforts to honor their officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice or have been seriously injured in the line of duty. Congress understood this need and provided a means to assist jurisdictions that are actively engaged in the process and need additional financial assistance to complete their projects.

Permanent tributes are broadly defined and may take many forms. Many memorials are fixed objects that require little maintenance. Others may include moving components, manmade or natural materials, water, plant materials, and electromechanical support systems. Examples of generally acceptable permanent tributes include plaques, statues, portraits, fountains, free-form or abstract sculptures, living tributes (trees, gardens, and so on), murals, and the dedication of public buildings or public areas. Law Enforcement Tribute Act grants are limited to providing funds for applicants to continue work on or complete permanent tributes. Grants may not be used by jurisdictions that have completed a permanent tribute at the time of the award, and they cannot be used for land purchases or construction costs.

This will be a competitive award process, peer reviewed by a panel of experts in the development and management of public safety memorials. A weighted point system will consider the following areas of the application: demonstrated community involvement, descriptive statement of the permanent tribute design, demonstrated ability to complete the project, and adherence to budget requirements and limitations.

Legislation: Public Law 107-273 authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to carry out programs to honor, through permanent tributes, men and women of the United States who were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement officers or public safety officers. The act authorizes a yearly appropriation of $3 million from FY 2002 through FY 2006.

Funding: BJA combined the FY 2003 and FY 2004 appropriations. Approximately $700,000 is available for grants.

Eligibility: Eligible jurisdictions are:

• The 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
• Any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, and other general purpose political subdivision of a state.
• Any agency of the District of Columbia government and the U.S. government performs public safety functions in and for the District of Columbia and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
• A tribe, band, pueblo, nation, and other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village, regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.]), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their special status as Indians.

How/When To Apply: The application and award process occured over the Internet, through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS). The solicitation was released November 10, 2003, and applications were due January 8, 2004.

Contact Information:
Payments and Benefits Division
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202-616-6500
Fax: 202-616-0314
E-mail: ASKBJA.USDOJ.GOV