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Congressman Michael McCaul Secures Federal Funding

March 24, 2008

(AUSTIN) - Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) presented a check for $188,000 to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo at the Austin Police Department this morning. The federal money will help support an innovative partnership between the Austin Independent School District and the APD. It will allow the AISD School Resource Officers and the APD Gang Unit to improve their methods of information sharing to establish a more effective police response to juvenile involvement in gangs. Funding will be used to create a shared database called the Juvenile Gang Intelligence Program.

"The lack of a data sharing method puts both law enforcement agencies at a significant disadvantage in fighting gang related crime. I am proud to have been able to secure funding that will allow the Austin Police Department to work hand in hand with Austin Independent School District to keep our schools and community safe," stated Congressman McCaul.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) serves over 93,000 students and teachers. The AISD Police Department has School Resource Officers working at the 17 high schools and 21 middle schools to keep the campuses safe. Some AISD school administrators collect information on students suspected of being involved in gangs on a school-by-school basis, but a formal process does not exist for utilizing this information, or sharing this information on a district-wide basis. The Austin Police Department also gathers data on confirmed gang members, most of whom are adults. APD has very little information on juvenile activity as it does not have a means to share information with the school district police. These funds, secured by Rep. McCaul, will be used to develop a shared database for gang-related information.

"The Austin Police is honored to receive these federal funds," said Police Chief Art Acevedo. "This funding will be used to develop a shared database for gang-related information between the Austin Police Department and the Austin Independent School District. In addition, the database will help us reach out to these kids and identify kids that are headed down the wrong path and ultimately help us intervene in their lives."

In addition to the $188,000, Congressman McCaul, along with U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Lamar Smith, obtained a separate $211,500 appropriation for APD police technology. The secured funding will be used to purchase a new driving simulator for police officer training.

Michael McCaul is currently serving his second term representing Texas' 10th District in the United States Congress. The 10th Congressional District of Texas stretches across 8 counties from Austin to the Houston suburbs, and includes Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Harris, Lee, Travis, Washington and Waller Counties.