RIDGWAY – Cell phones are becoming well-known for the wealth of information they hold for criminal cases, and grant money would help Elk County get this access in-house.
During Tuesday’s Elk County commissioners meeting, District Attorney Shawn McMahon said he is applying for a $15,990 grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for Cellebrite technology.
McMahon said this would allow the county to get data off of cell phones in criminal cases. The county can get this information now, but it must get the information through the Pennsylvania attorney general, the Pennsylvania state police or the district attorney in Allegheny County. If the county is awarded the grant, Elk County Detective Gregg McManus would get certified in how to use this technology.
McMahon said criminals, like everyone else, often use cell phones to conduct business and cell phones contain valuable information.
The county will also apply for a $7,435 grant through the PCCD to purchase two mobile tablets for the Johnsonburg Police Department. This would give Johnsonburg officers access to online databases in their cars and allow them to communicate in the field with other law enforcement officers, McMahon said, helping them to work more efficiently.
The county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board approved applying for both grants. McMahon said the county should be able to get the money quickly if it is approved, because it is from a pot of funds that was supposed to be used for other projects through the PCCD, but wasn’t spent.
Elk County would have to spend the money by July 1 if the grants are approved. The county will not have to provide a match for this money. Both applications were approved by the commissioners.
The commissioners also approved a retroactive agreement with the Area Transportation Authority to participate in the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP).
This money allows ATA to provide rides to eligible patients for medical needs that meet the Department of Human Services MATP requirements.
County money is not used for this service — the state money passes through the county to ATA. All of the counties that use ATA have similar agreements in place, Commissioner Dan Freeburg said.
In other county news, the commissioners approved an application to the Department of Environmental Protection for the renewal of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for sewage for 153 Silver Creek Road in Johnsonburg, a residence.
A contract between Elk County Children and Youth Services and Dr. Allen H. Ryen, a licensed psychologist, was also approved for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The next commissioners meeting opens at 10 a.m. April 4 in the courthouse annex.
