The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office was recently awarded a Courtroom Security Grant totaling $15,000 through Administrative Offices of the Courts Supreme Court of Arkansas. The grant application was submitted  for the 2017 funding period to purchase 3 A.E.D. Devices and 9 Axon tasers. At that time, the grant went unfunded due to a large number of applications received by the committee. Lawrence County had received a $15,000 grant from the committee in 2016 to purchase a security camera system for the courthouse.
In late May of this year, Governor Asa Hutchinson supported the efforts of the committee by making a one-time release from “rainy day” funds. This action allowed the committee to fund applications submitted in 2017 and 2018 grant periods.
The A.E.D.’s have been purchased and installed in three locations within the Lawrence County Courthouse. The tasers also have been purchased and will be distributed to deputies once any recertification’s have been performed.