LUDLOW — The Hampden County Sheriff’s Office was recently awarded $17,140 through the State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program for use toward supporting traffic safety initiatives by local police departments.
Specifically awarded to government agencies, the State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program was one of three programs that divided the more than $12.4 million in funding announced by the Healey-Driscoll administration in September. Funds through these programs were divided by the Office of Grants and Research and awarded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Within the State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program, agencies must use the awarded funds toward at least one of the state-noted “road safety priority areas,” which include bicyclist and pedestrian safety, child passenger safety, impaired and distracted driving, safety for drivers older than 65 years old or younger than 21 years old, seat belt safety, and speeding or aggressive driving, OGR noted.
The Hampden County Sheriff’s Office was one of six agencies awarded funds from this program. In addition to the office, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association, Massachusetts State Police, Municipal Police Training Committee and Office of the Trial Court also received funds, according to the Office of Grants and Research.
The awarded $17,140 will allow the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office to continue helping local police departments that request support with traffic safety initiatives, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Communications Director Rob Rizzuto told Reminder Publishing. He noted examples such as distracted driving, pedestrian safety and speeding.
“Local police departments frequently request assistance from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office to help with traffic safety details,” Rizzuto stated. “This grant will help pay for [Peace Officer Standards and Training]-certified deputies to assist with these initiatives.”
In the past, the office has supported traffic enforcement initiatives in communities including Chicopee, Holyoke, Palmer and West Springfield, Rizzuto said.
In addition to supporting traffic safety initiatives, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office will also be utilizing the awarded funds to provide car seat safety checks and offer information on traffic safety to local drivers, Rizzuto noted.
Beyond the State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program, the divided $12.4 million also supported the Underserved Communities Traffic Safety Grant Program, which supports educational programs in low-income communities, and the Municipal Road Safety Grant Program, which awarded funds to 192 police departments for traffic safety initiatives, the office of Grants and Research stated. These awards included funds for Belchertown, Chicopee, Granby, Hardwick, Ludlow, Palmer, South Hadley, Springfield, Warren and Wilbraham.
