Glendale : Police to Seek State Grant

The Glendale Police Department on Tuesday was granted city permission to join more than 100 California law enforcement agencies in using sophisticated computer programs to crack down on career criminals.

The City Council unanimously authorized the department to seek a $487,300 grant from the state Office of Criminal Justice Planning to hire two specialists and to purchase computer programs used to track crime trends.

If approved by the state, the three-year grant would require the city to spend $136,800 of its own funds and to shoulder the full, $145,000 annual cost of maintaining the program after the first three years. City officials said local costs will be borne by savings within the department from greater efficiency in the deployment of officers.

The new scientific system is expected to help quash emerging crime problems--such as gang violence, drug sales, purse snatchings and car thefts--by tracking and apprehending criminals as incidents occur.