LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has been notified of available federal funding to support law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives, according to an announcement from the Lexington Police Department.

The city is eligible to receive $127,949 through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program 2025 Local Solicitation, a formula grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The award is calculated based on population and violent crime statistics, according to the city.

The grant funds, which must be expended over a four-year period, can support a range of criminal justice priorities including personnel, equipment, supplies, training, technical assistance and information systems. The Lexington Police Department will recommend how the funds are allocated.

The announcement comes as the city continues initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime. Violent crime fell in Lexington in 2025, with shooting deaths declining for the fourth consecutive year, according to police department data. The city recorded 126 fewer violent crimes in 2025 compared to 2024, representing a more than 10% decrease.

Police Chief Lawrence Weathers has attributed the improvement to several factors, including advanced technology such as crime mapping and license plate readers, as well as community partnerships. ONE Lexington, the city's violence intervention program, has received recognition for building relationships with youth and young adults at risk of gun violence.

The grant is available to states, tribes and local governments through the Justice Assistance Grant Program, which is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The program was named after Edward "Eddie" R. Byrne, an officer in the New York City Police Department who was murdered while protecting a witness in a drug case.