In an attempt to crack down on impaired drivers and red-light runners, the county received a grant to put more police on the roadways.
During a press conference Tuesday, Lance Grubbs, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Northeast Region law enforcement liaison, announced Kosciusko County law enforcement officers received a $31,000 grant from the ICJI.The funds will be used to provide money for overtime to officers.
For the Warsaw Police Department, that will allow officers to patrol U.S. 30 from CR 150W to CR 250E an additional 20 hours a week.
"The Warsaw Police Department remains steadfast in our commitment to public safety and continues to have an aggressive enforcement approach to reducing red-light running along U.S. 30," said WPD Capt. Perry Hunter.
Hunter said a study in 2003 concluded that trucks run 69 percent of the time, and cars run it 32 percent of the time on U.S. 30 within the Warsaw city limits.
Ann Sweet, founder of Focus on Safety and national spokesperson for the Stop Red Light Running campaign, also spoke at the press conference.
Sweet said Indiana ranks as the 10th most deadly state for traffic accidents, and that U.S. 30 is one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the state.
One way officials hope to increase safety is to increase visibility of both signage and patrol cars.
"You drive through Warsaw on U.S. 30, you'll notice more patrol cars," said Hunter.
WPD also is working with the Indiana Department of Transportation to increase speed bumps for commercial trucks and display larger signs.
Craig Allebach, Winona Lake town coordinator, was the grant administrator and said that the grant will provide additional police on U.S. 30 for the next 11 to 12 months.
WPD, along with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, also have been on a enforcement blitz that runs through Nov. 24 in order to crack down on impaired drivers or those not wearing safety belts.
In a release provided to the media at the press conference, Kosciusko County had a total of 2,646 traffic collisions in 2006.
The release also stated the three intersections with the most collisions were Center Street and U.S. 30E, Main Street and Ind. 15N and CR 250N and Ind. 15N.
Also attending the press conference were KCSD Sheriff Rocky Goshert, KCSD Capt. Aaron Rovenstine, State Sen. Tom Wyss and former State Senator and County Treasurer Kent Adams
