![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/breakingphoto.jpeg\" "\\"The")
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The sun sets in the West 7th neighborhood of Fort Worth in 2022.<\/p>\n
Yffy Yossifor<\/p>\n
Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
Tarrant County law enforcement agencies will receive over $500,000 in new federal grants<\/a> intended to bolster public safety in the region, officials with the Department of Justice said Wednesday.<\/p>\n The grants come from a DOJ fund that \u201cserves as the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions,\u201d according to a news release. The money received from the fund can be used to support personnel, equipment, supplies and other needs.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201clargest mental health facility in our county,\u201d said that the funding will equip deputies with \u201cthe tools, training, and support they need to respond with understanding \u2014 keeping the individual in crisis safe, as well as the deputy and the community we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fort Worth Police Department will receive $577,626 to strengthen management of laboratory information and increase the efficiency of evidence processing.<\/p>\n \u201cModernizing our laboratory systems allows our investigators and forensic professionals to work faster, smarter, and more efficiently, helping us deliver justice to our community,\u201d Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. \u201cWe are grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice and for their investment in keeping Fort Worth Safe.\u201d<\/p>\n The Arlington Police Department will use its cut of the funds to purchase new Glock pistols equipped with red dot sights, \u201cstrengthening readiness in a city that plays a major role in the county\u2019s public safety ecosystem,\u201d officials said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cOur 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,\u201d North Richland Hills Police Chief Jeff Garner said.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n