Lofgren Announces $22K+ Federal Grant for Watsonville PD Crime Analysis

September 3, 2026 Press Release WATSONVILLE, CA — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) announced that the City of Watsonville Police Department received a $22,285 Byrne JAG grant for crime analysis software. This will allow the agency to collect and analyze data on crime patterns, trends, and hot spots. Crime analysis will help identify areas with high levels of crime and assist in the deployment of limited resources to address crime more efficiently. “One of my top priorities as a Member of Congress is ensuring that our communities are safe,” said Rep. Lofgren. “That’s why I’ve been supportive of federal funding that will provide law enforcement with the tools they need to help stop crime. I’m thankful for the Watsonville Police Department, and I hope that this new software will be useful as they work around the clock to protect and serve this city.” “The support provided through this grant will give the Watsonville Police Department another valuable tool to better understand crime trends in our community and where our resources are needed most,” said Watsonville Police Department Chief Brian Shab. "By using reliable information to guide our decisions, we can focus our efforts where they will have the greatest impact and continue working toward a safer Watsonville. We are grateful to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for her continued commitment to our department and the Watsonville community.” The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is a formula grant program which serves as the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Since 2005, BJA has funded nearly 26,000 direct JAG awards, totaling over $8.2 billion. ###