Law enforcement agencies receive highway safety grants

PINE BELT, Miss. - The Hattiesburg Police and Jones County Sheriff's department received highway safety grants from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety.

Lt. Jon Traxler with Hattiesburg Police Department said, "The police department's main saying is 'if we have one more than we had the day before, or the year before, we consider that a problem'."

Hattiesburg Police received a $68,000 grant and Jones County deputies received two grants totaling $48,000.

The two grants will help protect citizens against DUI's and seat belt safety.

Lance Chancellor with Jones County Sheriff's department said, "We help to reduce death and injuries from DUI's or from lack of seatbelt usage and child safety seats."

"That money is used partially for an officer to work nothing but DUI's, it pays for part of the salary, but it also provides overtime money for us to bring in officers to do saturation details" said Lt. Traxler.

Both agencies hope to use part of the money to educate the public and add more uniforms on the highways.

Chancellor added, "There is some training money that is included in the grant."

Lt. Traxler said, "It also gives us the opportunity to put literature out there about not drinking and driving, to do public service announcements."

Jones County also received a third grant just over $62,000 and will be used for the victim's advocacy program.