Brick Twp. Police car. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Township officials this week approved a resolution authorizing the township to apply for the state’s annual Safe and Secure Communities Grant, state funding the township normally received annually to be applied to a specific law enforcement initiative.
This year, officials said, the township will use the $60,000 in funding to increase manpower on the Brick police department’s Selective Enforcement Team and Drug Enforcement Unit.
“Officers funded by the grant will be involved with directed patrols in high crime areas to ensure a better quality of life for the citizens of Brick,” a statement issued by the township said.
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The township is focusing a number of resources on anti-drug initiatives as Ocean County continues to battle a heroin abuse crisis. In the coming months, the township will go around to various senior communities with drop boxes to dispose of unused prescription medications. There is already a prescription dropbox available 24 hours a day at the township municipal complex.
B-Mac, the township municipal alliance against substance abuse, will also be working with real estate agents to urge homeowners selling their houses to remove prescriptions from medicine cabinets before open houses.
Brick has also received a Governor’s Council grant, in the amount of $39,523, which will be doubled by the township through in-kind contributions of $29,642 and a cash match of $9,881. The combined amount of $79,046 would fund B-Mac for 2016, whose mission is to “provide substance abuse prevention programs and services for the community,” the statement said.
B-Mac meetings are held monthly on Mondays at 7 p.m. at town hall in the meeting room across from council chamber, and all are welcome to attend, Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic said.
A calendar of B-Mac meeting dates can be found on the Township website at bricktownship.net/BMAC.
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