The Northern Arizona University Police Department (NAUPD) has been awarded four grants from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) totaling $41,236 to be used for a variety of initiatives that will increase roadway safety initiatives on the NAU campus and throughout northern Arizona.
“The awarded funds are just one example of the continued relationship between the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and NAUPD,” said NAUPD Chief Kelli Smith. “Our goal is to cooperatively promote roadway safety on campus and throughout Flagstaff, and these funds allow us to do that.”
The first award of $11,424 will allow NAUPD to dedicate officers to DUI enforcement during multi-agency DUI task forces on all major holidays and significant NAU event weekends such as Homecoming.
Another grant totaling $8,064 will allow officers to engage in bicycle and ATV patrols to educate cyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians on applicable laws as well as take enforcement action on violations if needed.
The third grant of $6,665 will be used to train two additional officers on the use of the GOHS-funded Zero Electric Motorcycle. The training consists of an intense three-week motor school where officers learn how to safely operate a motorcycle in a law enforcement capacity. The NAUPD Zero Motorcycle is used to enhance traffic enforcement, bicycle enforcement and patrols of undeveloped lands, as well as faster response to emergency calls for service.
The final award of $15,083 will be used to purchase scanners and printers for each patrol vehicle so officers can utilize the AZTraCS traffic records system. The system will be used while conducting traffic enforcement or accident investigations in the field and will integrate with the department’s existing records management system. The system will improve the accuracy and timeliness of traffic-related data.
The goal of these contract initiatives is to address critical roadway safety issues such as impaired driving, speed-related crashes and pedestrian, cyclist and skateboarder-related injuries and fatalities.