The sun sets in the West 7th neighborhood of Fort Worth in 2022.
Yffy Yossifor
Star-Telegram
Tarrant County law enforcement agencies will receive over $500,000 in new federal grants intended to bolster public safety in the region, officials with the Department of Justice said Wednesday.
The grants come from a DOJ fund that “serves as the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions,” according to a news release. The money received from the fund can be used to support personnel, equipment, supplies and other needs.
The money is necessary in Tarrant County because of rapid growth in the region putting a strain on public safety resources, said Ryan Raybould, the U.S. attorney for North Texas.
The county at large will receive an unspecified amount of money to expand mental health assistance on police calls, according to the news release. Sheriff Bill Waybourn, who describes the jail in his charge as the “largest mental health facility in our county,” said that the funding will equip deputies with “the tools, training, and support they need to respond with understanding — keeping the individual in crisis safe, as well as the deputy and the community we serve.”
The Fort Worth Police Department will receive $577,626 to strengthen management of laboratory information and increase the efficiency of evidence processing.
“Modernizing our laboratory systems allows our investigators and forensic professionals to work faster, smarter, and more efficiently, helping us deliver justice to our community,” Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice and for their investment in keeping Fort Worth Safe.”
The Arlington Police Department will use its cut of the funds to purchase new Glock pistols equipped with red dot sights, “strengthening readiness in a city that plays a major role in the county’s public safety ecosystem,” officials said.
North Richland Hills police have been awarded just over $12,000 to implement an indoor drone program aimed at reducing risks during building searches and other complex operations, according to the statement.
“Our department prioritizes the sanctity of all human life, and this indoor drone program will create additional response options that support both officer and community safety,” North Richland Hills Police Chief Jeff Garner said.
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Lillie Davidson is a breaking news reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She graduated from TCU in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, is fluent in Spanish, and can complete a crossword in five minutes.