Burns: $200,000 mobile crime scene vehicle coming to Johnstown PD
Crime-fighting grant will assist in prompt evidence collection, prosecutions
Rep. Frank Burns February 1, 2023 | 12:19 PM
EBENSBURG, Feb. 1 – In the wake of last week’s Johnstown shooting homicide near a school, state Rep. Frank Burns has secured a $200,000 grant for the city’s police department to purchase a mobile crime scene collection vehicle to speed arrests and prosecutions.
Burns, D-Cambria, said he was keen to help the Johnstown Police Department finally obtain this valuable tool, which provides the ability to collect and process evidence directly from crime scenes.
Representing Johnstown for the first time, Burns said this is a crucial step in bringing to the city his longstanding commitment to making our streets safer.
“When Johnstown is ranked the 10th-most dangerous city in Pennsylvania, with one in 81 residents experiencing a violent crime, it’s a clear sign that police need all the support we can give them,” Burns said. “They’ll now be able to work on-the-go, quickly collecting and analyzing the evidence needed to more swiftly apprehend and prosecute criminal suspects.” ______________________________________________________________________
“Thankfully, with the help of Representative Burns and his determination to lowering crime in the area and assisting us, he was able to help us secure funding for this project.” – Capt. Chad Miller, Johnstown Police Department.
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Johnstown police Capt. Chad Miller echoed that sentiment, crediting Burns with playing a key role in obtaining the grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
“This unit will help our detectives and officers process crime scenes in a faster, more effective way, which will hopefully lead to more prosecutions and case closures,” Miller said. “This is something we’ve been after for a while. We’ve just not been able to secure funding for a project like this.
“Thankfully, with the help of Representative Burns and his determination to lowering crime in the area and assisting us, he was able to help us secure funding for this project.”