TIFTON — The City of Tifton is once again applying for funding from the Justice Assistance Grant, but with a different goal in mind.

City council unanimously approved the submission of an application for the 2023 Justice Assistance Grant program at their Sep. 18 meeting, intending to use the funds to help the police department tackle rising gang violence.

Police Chief Steve Hyman came before the council at their previous meeting to request the submission, expressing his desire to put the funds toward hiring consultants to better educate officers on gang violence, both in classroom environments and field study, and paying for overtime of personnel to be able to partake in this education.

Funds from JAG are typically used to aid with traffic issues, but Hyman stressed that this was a more pressing matter.

Should their application be accepted, the city will receive an estimated $16,637. Hyman plans to use $10,000 on personnel hours, $5,000 for consultant fees, and the remainder for administrative fees.