4. It is the purpose of this act to provide assistance to municipalities for law enforcement projects which accomplish the following objectives as warranted by the needs of the community:

a. Policing in a community-oriented manner through an emphasis on the use of foot patrols, personal interaction between police officers and residents, and participation in community crime prevention programs;

b. Targeting law enforcement activities toward the specific needs of persons who live or work in a particular neighborhood, such as children, senior citizens or merchants;

c. Encouraging resident involvement in activities that contribute to crime prevention, including citizen patrols, safe houses, neighborhood watch groups, and crime prevention educational programs;

d. Reducing the incidence of criminal behavior, such as drug trafficking or youth gang activity, that disrupts the normal functioning of a community;

e. Implementing the Violent Offenders Removal Program to identify and expeditiously apprehend violent criminals who operate within a targeted area; and

f. Developing other innovative strategies which hold promise for preventing or reducing crime within a defined neighborhood or with respect to a particular demographic group within the municipality.

L.1993,c.220,s.4.