SAFFORD — The Safford Police Department will increase both awareness and enforcement of impaired driving, thanks to grants from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
On Thursday, the department announced it had received an $8,000 grant for officer overtime during Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force and Departmental Enforcement details.
In addition, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety granted SPD an additional $8,000 for Selective Traffic Enforcement overtime, monitoring for speed, seat belt, aggressive driving, child safety restraint and other traffic-related violations.
Finally, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety granted SPD $6,331 for the purchase of speed-related equipment, which the department said it will use to purchase two in-car speed radars with heat shields to protect the radars from the heat in summer.
“These grants are part of an ongoing cooperative effort that our department has enjoyed for nearly 20 years with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Our agencies share a common goal to make our streets and highways safer for our motorist, cyclist, and pedestrians,” Safford Police Chief Brian Avila said in a prepared release. “We appreciate AZGOHS and Chief Executive Officer J.M. ‘Jesse’ Torrez for once again providing the financial support that makes it possible to put additional officers on our streets and providing them with the equipment necessary for successful traffic enforcement.”
Avila added that, in addition to enforcement, Safford Police Department will be working with schools, community groups and media in an effort to increase awareness of the risks and consequences unlawful driving creates.
.jpg)