MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Oct. 27, 2025) — Montgomery County has been awarded nearly $2.25 million in federal and state funding through grants to enhance public safety, expand law enforcement capacity, and improve community-based crisis response.
The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s FY2025 COPS Hiring Program and the ADECA Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Grant, represents a major investment in the County’s comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence, strengthen public trust, and modernize policing.
“These awards reaffirm that Montgomery County is leading the way in smart, community-focused public safety,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton. “By combining cutting-edge technology with compassionate crisis response and a stronger law enforcement workforce, we’re building a safer and more resilient Montgomery County for all residents.”
Expanding Law Enforcement Capacity
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will receive $1,249,480 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Program to hire 10 additional deputies. The funding will enhance patrol coverage, increase community policing, and improve visibility in both rural and urban areas.
The added deputies will help ensure that the County’s growing public safety initiatives, including the Real Time Crime Center and technology modernization projects, are fully supported by personnel.
“This investment strengthens our ability to be proactive rather than reactive,” said Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. “With more deputies in the field and the latest tools at their disposal, our team can focus on reducing violent crime, connecting with residents, and protecting every corner of Montgomery County.”
Advancing Technology and Behavioral Health
The County also previously received $1 million from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) for a multi-agency initiative to reduce gun violence and improve behavioral health crisis response.
Project partners include the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Carastar Health, the Montgomery Police Department, and a local university partner.
The project will integrate advanced law enforcement technologies that include AXON Justice Software to centralize camera footage and other digital evidence, the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), pole cameras, and license plate recognition tools. The project will also expand mental health crisis response through Carastar’s mobile crisis team. A local university partner will evaluate the project’s outcomes, ensuring accountability and measurable community impact.
Building a Sustainable, Community-Focused Future
Both grant awards align with ongoing local initiatives, including:
- VirTra De-escalation Training System: $1 million investment to provide realistic training simulations for deputies and community members to practice crisis de-escalation techniques.
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training: Offered quarterly by the Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery Police Department to equip officers and local community partners with mental health response skills.
- Free Firearms Familiarization Classes: Monthly public courses put on by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to promote responsible gun ownership and community engagement.
These programs are all designed to strengthen public trust, transparency, and community engagement through reductions in gun-related incidents, decreased law enforcement response times, higher clearance rates for firearm-related crimes, and increased mental health interventions and follow-up services.
Together, these initiatives underscore a shared vision: a safer, smarter, and more connected Montgomery County.
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About the Montgomery County Commission
As the seat of Alabama’s capital city, Montgomery County plays a central role in shaping the economic, cultural, and governmental landscape of the state. The Montgomery County Commission provides responsive, transparent, and innovative services to the community. Led by five County Commissioners serving more than 225,000 residents in total, the Montgomery County Commission is focused on building a stronger future and enhancing the quality of life in the heart of Alabama’s River Region.
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