The City of Demopolis and Marengo County will share in a more than $13,000 grant from U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

Shelby, a ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, on Tuesday announced that the Department of Justice will award a total of $532,691 to law enforcement agencies in eight Alabama cities.

Among that was an allocation of $13,550 to purchase an evidence tracking system, pro-lite laser, tactical gas masks, digital night vision goggles and walkie-talkies for city and county law enforcement officers.

“In many of my 67 county visits each year, district attorneys and law enforcement officers express the importance of the Byrne grants,” Shelby said. “This underscores my strong belief that the individuals serving on the front lines of our communities each day know best what their departments need to successfully do their jobs. Providing funds directly to our law enforcement officers allows them to control crime based on their own needs and is one of the best ways we can support our crime fighters.”

In all, more than $500,000 in grants were awarded through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which provides funding for law enforcement agencies to implement programs that prevent and control crime based on their own identified needs.