Van Hollen Awards $244,500 in County Law Enforcement Grants

MADISON – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today the awarding of $244,500 in state County Law Enforcement Grants to sheriffs departments in seven northern Wisconsin counties. The grant program is designed to assist with the unique law enforcement challenges for counties adjacent to Native American lands in Wisconsin.

“This grant program has helped sheriffs departments with law enforcement issues resulting from a close proximity to tribal lands and casinos in particular,” said Van Hollen.

The grant program funds a variety of law enforcement services to Native American communities across Wisconsin. Grants have been used for the costs of law enforcement personnel, specialized patrol, investigation, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, and information technology. Awards have also funded law enforcement training, communications equipment, armories, vehicle location technology and emergency/rescue equipment.

Grant awards are allocated using a formula consisting of three criteria: county population; county crime rate; and county unemployment rate. This year's funds were awarded to Barron, Burnett, Langlade, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida and Shawano Counties.

For a list of all programs receiving Calendar Year 2011 awards, please go to