Vallejo to spend safety grant money on increased patrols
The $102,000 traffic safety grant money will largely be spent on additional police patrols through the city.
(Graphic by Solano News Update)
The Vallejo Police Department says it intends to spend $102,000 in public safety grant money earmarked for traffic initiatives toward extra police patrols.
Earlier this month, officials said the California Office of Traffic Safety had awarded the city the money “in an effort to ensure the safety of travelers and pedestrians in the City of Vallejo.”
The police department says it intends to use the grant money to step up patrols with an emphasis on preventing DUI, driving while under the influence of drugs, distracted driving, speeding, improper lane changes and failure to stop at signs and traffic lights, among other initiatives.
The money will also be spent on increased officer training and safety re-certification in areas such as DUI detection and drug recognition.
“We’ve seen six traffic-related fatalities this year, and we want to ensure we’re taking proactive measures to prevent those tragic occurrences from happening in the future,” Shawny Williams, the city’s chief of police, said in a press release sent to reporters.
The city’s decision to use the money toward those initiatives appears to be in line with the Office of Traffic Safety’s intended use of the grant funds, which the agency says is supposed to be spent on a number of priority programs related to traffic safety. The state agency receives and disburses money based on federal funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Vallejo police officials did not say exactly how the money would be divided between six initiatives outlined in their press release earlier this month, but said the goal was to create “an environment that is safe and equitable for all road users in our community.”
“These are trying times, and now, more than ever, it is important that we continue to make traffic safety a priority,” Shane Bower, a sergeant with the police department, said.
This newsletter is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to show your appreciation, consider making a donation in any amount or converting your email subscription into a paid one. Discuss this newsletter and other stories from across Solano County on our Facebook group here and follow our new Twitter account here.