Burke County Sheriff's Office receives $100,000 grant for rural violent crime reduction

The Burke County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday it received a $100,000 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative grant.

The funding will support a two-year program to increase the understanding, capacity and access to resources to implement rural violent crime reduction initiatives, according to a news release.

Specifically, the sheriff's office will use the funds for a crime analyst position within the department, according to the release. It will also go toward crime analysis training and consultant support.

"As violent crime continues to rise in many jurisdictions, rural communities are no exception," the sheriff's office noted in the release. "Rural law enforcement agencies, like ours, must address violent crime while also navigating other challenges, including personnel shortages, expansive geographic territory, and lack of access to necessary resources and medical treatment."

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