SFY26 Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund (LEOTEF) Program NOAF (2/24/26)

The Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund (LEOTEF) Program for the 2026 State Fiscal Year is administered by the Division of Administration within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, acting on behalf of the Police Training Commission (PTC). Established under New Jersey legislation (P.L. 1996, c. 115), LEOTEF is authorized by N.J.S.A. 52:17B-71(q) and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3.3(c), and further guided by administrative code N.J.A.C. 13:1A-1.1 et seq. The LEOTEF initiative was developed to provide support specifically for the training and equipment needs of law enforcement training schools that have been approved by the PTC. The central objective of LEOTEF is to fund three primary activities: the development and provision of basic training courses, the offering of in-service training programs, and the procurement of equipment necessary to conduct such training. These activities are strictly limited to those carried out by PTC-approved schools. Funding is sourced from fines levied upon criminal convictions, with approximately $259,239.51 available for distribution in the 2026 fiscal year. The availability and distribution of these funds are contingent upon appropriations made by either the state or federal legislature, or other applicable funding sources. This funding structure emphasizes that there are no guarantees for ongoing or future allocations beyond the current award period. Only PTC-approved schools are eligible to apply for funding. No other organization types, including general law enforcement agencies or training organizations not certified by the PTC, are permitted to receive LEOTEF grants. Applicants must be in good standing and must submit a complete and timely application to be considered for funding. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Notifications regarding the availability of funds will be sent via email to approved PTC schools. These notifications will include a consolidated application and award package. The application and award package must be submitted no later than sixty (60) days from the date of the notification email. The application must be complete and include all required forms. Signatures from the head of the applicant organization (e.g., State agency head, Chief Executive, Chairperson of the Board) are required for all documents unless otherwise noted. The final application must be submitted via email to the Grant Operations Section at [email protected] with "LEOTEF Application" included in the subject line. Technical assistance for the application process is available through Elizabeth Griffis at [email protected]. Award notices are expected to be issued approximately forty-five (45) days following receipt of completed applications. Applicants should not assume any funding will be provided beyond the current cycle, and the Department holds no liability if funds are unavailable due to legislative appropriations shortfalls. In summary, the LEOTEF Program provides essential financial support for training infrastructure within New Jersey’s law enforcement community, but access is tightly restricted to a specific class of institutions—those schools approved by the Police Training Commission. The program’s focus on training development and necessary equipment acquisition underlines its strategic role in enhancing law enforcement preparedness through education and operational readiness.