NORWICH – The Norwich City Police Department has been awarded a $288,188 federal grant that will allow the addition of a full-time detective who’ll take aim at combating drug-related crimes.

On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) joined Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino and Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano at the Police Department to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice had awarded the city the competitive grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in order to help combat drug-related crime.

The police applied for the grant citing increases in drug and firearm-related crimes in the City of Norwich.

The grant was awarded based on factors including the area’s population, crime rates and financial need.

The funds will cover the cost of hiring a new full-time detective for the next two years and purchasing of new equipment designed to infiltrate local drug operations.