This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General), published as received.
Yesterday, the Justice Department awarded East Baton Rouge Parish $63,532,285 million through its Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a flagship effort to reduce violent crime, restore law and order, and strengthen public safety in communities across the country.
“The Model Cities Initiative reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime across the country and ensuring the safety of every American,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These cities are setting an example of proactive law enforcement that will strengthen the rule of law and improve public safety in their jurisdictions. As violent crime rates continue to fall to historic lows, the Department of Justice is redoubling our efforts to invest in local communities and keep American families safe.”
East Baton Rouge Parish was selected from nearly 50 cities for its strong interagency partnerships and comprehensive public safety strategy, which brings together law enforcement, local government, and community organizations to combat violent crime. The city also stood out for its ambitious plans to expand crime‑fighting, investigative, and prosecution capacity; modernize crime data, intelligence, and analytics; and enhance law enforcement readiness and frontline support.
The city’s persistent and worsening violent crime problem demanded sustained investment of law enforcement. Over the past two decades, the homicide rate in Baton Rouge has averaged roughly three times that of large U.S. cities. From 2021 through 2025, police responded to over 1,300 non-fatal shootings, over 12,000 shots-fired calls, and over 1,200-armed robberies.
“When I was elected as Governor, I promised to put an end to the crime plaguing cities like Baton Rouge. With the help of the Trump Administration, AG Blanche, and our incredible law enforcement officials, we are making good on that promise, said Governor Jeff Landry. “Today’s announcement will help us take more criminals off our streets and put them where they belong: behind bars. Louisiana is committed to public safety — for our children, for our families, and for those who wear the badge.”
“Anytime a city receives tens of millions to make it a safer, better place to be, that is fantastic news. I look forward to this money helping Baton Rouge but also serving as a model to other communities as well,” said Louisiana Senator Dr. Bill Cassidy. “Compliments to the mayor, the district attorney, and others for entering a winning application. I am proud to have supported their effort.”
“President Trump and the Department of Justice have proven their commitment to Louisiana and the people of this country,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana. “Together, Louisiana and our federal partners are fighting back against violent crime and ensuring that our men and women in blue have the support and resources they need to be successful.”
“From day one, we have made public safety our top priority. This grant is one of the most historic and significant public safety investments in Baton Rouge’s history,” said East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards. “We plan to turn this three-year grant into a 30-year return on investment that transforms Baton Rouge for decades to come.”
The MCI takes a whole-of-city approach to public safety, bringing together law enforcement agencies, local government officials, and community partners to develop comprehensive strategies that address the unique public safety challenges facing their communities. The applications submitted by the four selected jurisdictions exemplified the innovative, forward-thinking approaches the Department sought through the initiative.
While each jurisdiction faces unique public safety challenges and brings different priorities, resources, and starting points to the initiative, the Department is confident in the strength of their proposals and their commitment to achieving meaningful results. Despite differing approaches, all four jurisdictions demonstrated a shared determination to reduce violent crime and make their communities safer.
Through the initiative, the Justice Department will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and implement its public safety plan. Funding will support a range of priorities, including hiring sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and other personnel to support enforcement, prosecution, and related public safety activities; adopting new and improved technology; purchasing or leasing equipment; enhancing forensic capabilities and capacity; and providing services to address mental health and substance use issues and reduce recidivism.
The Justice Department announced the Model Cities Initiative in June 2026 to build on early successes in jurisdictions such as Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., in reducing violence, crime, and disorder. The initiative directs nearly $300 million in federal resources toward comprehensive public safety strategies that strengthen law enforcement, improve coordination among public safety partners, and address the factors contributing to crime and recidivism.
Through these investments, the Justice Department will work alongside local partners to implement sustainable public safety solutions and deliver measurable results. The four Model Cities will help advance the Administration’s efforts to reject the status quo of allowing crime and disorder to go unchecked and restore law, order, and safety to communities across the nation.
Jacksonville, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri, have additionally been selected to receive federal investments supporting innovative, comprehensive, locally driven strategies to combat crime and enhance coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
The specific departments funded are:
- Baton Rouge - East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana;
- Jackson - City of Jackson, Mississippi;
- Jacksonville - City of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; and
- St. Louis - City of St. Louis Police Department.
