The Safford Police Department was recently awarded $27,846.00 in funding for the 2018-2019 Highway Safety Grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. This grant is part of the ongoing cooperative effort that the Safford Police department has enjoyed with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to fund proactive and educational programs in Safford. The Safford Police Department will carry out a comprehensive enforcement and public awareness program, using the funding from this grant to specifically target speed, DUI, seat belt, child restraint and reckless driving violations. Additional officers will be working in a “zero tolerance” enforcement effort to correct unlawful driver behaviors. Officers will also be working with schools, community groups and the media to increase awareness of the risks that unlawful driving behavior creates.
The $27,846.00 awarded to the Safford Police will provide $10,000.00 in DUI Enforcement overtime. This funding is specifically for Officer overtime and will be used during Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force and Departmental Enforcement details geared to target those driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Another $10,000.00 will provide officer overtime for Selective Traffic Enforcement (STEP). Through STEP funding, officers are able to focus additional hours on speed, seat belt, aggressive driving, child safety restraint and other traffic related violations. Included in the STEP funding, the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provided $7846.00 for the purchase of 2 In-Car Radars and 1 Digital Speed Display sign.
Safford Police Chief Joe Brugman says he deeply appreciates the continued support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and GOHS Director Alberto Gutier. “Our number one priority is the safety of our citizens and those that travel into our City. Funding made possible by GOHS allows us to place additional officers on our streets and highways during holidays, city events and activities when there is an increase in traffic numbers. The additional funds we are receiving for the radars and speed display is also most appreciated and will greatly assist our officers in their traffic enforcement efforts.”
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is the focal point for highway safety issues in Arizona. GOHS is a cabinet agency that provides leadership by developing, promoting, and coordinating programs; influencing public and private policy; and increasing public awareness of highway safety. For more information on AzGOHS, go to http://www.azgohs.gov/
