SOMERSET — Chief Todd Costa is pleased to announce that the Somerset Police Department has been awarded $29,479.82 in grant funds as part of the Municipal Road Safety Grant allocated by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research (OGR).
This award will be used to support the departments continuing commitment to the enforcement of motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic safety. The department’s traffic enforcement efforts will focus on impaired and distracted driving, speed enforcement, the “Click it or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement campaign, and crosswalk decoy operations. Funds from the grant will also be used to purchase traffic safety items and support non-enforcement safety activities such as the second annual Somerset Police Department Bicycle Rodeo.
“I wish to thank Capt. William Tedford for his efforts in securing this grant as well as his continuing efforts, along with Sgt. Matthew Lima, in the administration and implementation of this program,” said Chief Costa. “This funding will enable to the department to further our commitment to ensuring the public’s safety while keeping our roads safe.”
The grant is part of $10.9 million in federal grant funding awarded by the Baker-Polito Administration earlier this month to 186 municipal and state agencies for road safety improvements.
The grants provide police departments funding to address local traffic safety issues through enforcement, new equipment and novel traffic-safety programs. The goal is to support traditional enforcement activities and develop new strategies to reduce roadway crashes, injuries, fatalities, and associated economic losses in Massachusetts.
Since taking office in 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has distributed approximately $70 million in highway safety grants. The grants provide equipment, training, and enforcement resources for local communities.
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