Goodwin Announces Crime-fighting Grant For Huntington

U.S. Attorney also welcomes selection of new Huntington police chief

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that Huntington has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice.  The grant funding is being provided as part of the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program.  The award is a planning grant under which a strategic, collaborative and community-oriented plan will be designed to reduce crime in a specific neighborhood or target area.  The city will use the grant to attack crime in downtown Huntington, in an area stretching from 18th Street to 1st Street and Veterans Memorial Boulevard to 7th Avenue.

U.S. Attorney Goodwin also welcomed today's announcement that Joe Ciccarelli has been selected as Huntington's new police chief. "I have known and worked with Joe Ciccarelli for many years during his time as a special agent with the FBI," Goodwin said. "He has long been a leader in the law enforcement community in southern West Virginia. Joe has a unique ability to bring agencies together in pursuit of a common goal. Mayor Williams made a great choice.

"Former Chief Skip Holbrook made invaluable and lasting contributions to the city of Huntington and its police department," Goodwin continued. "I was fortunate to work with him and the department on many initiatives to help fight crime in Huntington.  I look forward to continuing that productive partnership and making it even stronger. "