Following the murder of Temple University Police Sgt. Christopher David Fitzgerald, Temple University will receive nearly $1.8 million in grant funding for safety enhancements focused on crime-fighting technology.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) said that the funding will go towards technology enhancements and training for public safety, including gunshot detection devices, license plate readers, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and upgrades to the Police Department’s Record Management System/National Incident-based Record System (NIBRS).
According to Temple University, the grant will also fund police officer-related initiatives, including retention and recruitment bonuses and crisis intervention and de-escalation training.
“This grant will enable the Temple Police Department to add innovation and crime-fighting technology to our already robust public safety program,” President Jason Wingard said. “The swift action from Governor Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Davis, and the PCCD board is impactful, timely, and catalyzing as Temple focuses on stronger, more advanced initiatives.”
The funding comes from the Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program within PCCD. The program was established in 2022 to administer Federal American Rescue Plan Act funding as grants to local law enforcement agencies.
Referencing Temple Police Sgt. Christopher David Fitzgerald, who was killed in the line of duty last month, State Senator Vincent J. Hughes said, “How can we honor the life of such a positive role model and take steps to prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening again? We can put the guns down, we can invest in our communities and our young people, and we can make sure more resources, like this grant, make their way to the Temple University Police Department so that its officers are equipped with what they need to stay safe while protecting and serving the Temple community.”
