Gardner, Westminster police announce plans for using traffic safety grants

GARDNER – Two local police departments are receiving federal grants aimed at improving road safety across the state.

The departments in Gardner and Westminster were among the 186 municipal and state agencies that received a portion of the $10.9 million funding for their plans to enhance traffic safety, upgrade equipment, and increase enforcement in their communities.

Lt. Nicholas Maroni said the $23,311.50 received by the Gardner Police Department would be used to pay for overtime patrols aimed at boosting enforcement of seatbelt laws, crosswalk safety, and cutting down on drunk and distracted driving in the city.

“We can use that money for where we see accidents; we use accident data to see where we need to post our overtime spots,” Maroni said. “We get an abundant amount of traffic complaints from the neighborhoods, and we use that data to station our officers using those grant-funded patrols.”

Crosswalk enforcement in Gardner

The money would also be used to fund the department’s decoy crosswalk enforcement program, according to Maroni. The program utilizes a plainclothes officer who monitors crosswalks throughout the city and checks for drivers who do not stop for pedestrians crossing the street.

“People who don’t stop are pulled over by an officer who is up the street and educated on the proper procedure when there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk,” Maroni said.

The road safety grant, which the Gardner department applies for and receives each year, has been used to purchase new equipment, including radar guns, and promote bicycle safety in the community, Maroni said.

Westminster to expand Child Passenger Safety program

The Westminster Police Department received $15,020.20, according to Acting Chief Jason Tamulen.

“We just got the grant last week so we are working on the logistics of everything,” Tamulen said, adding that the department would also expand its Child Passenger Safety program to include a car seat class for new parents, and offer a monthly event to check car seats.

“(The program) allows us to help support families that come in with an expired or recalled seat or have financial limitations and need a seat for their child," Tamulen said. "It’s an amazing program that we’ve done for about 20 years now.”  

State grants focus on road safety

The grant funding, which was awarded by the state’s Office of Grants and Research, were announced by Gov. Baker’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The funding supports the Massachusetts’ Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which describes the state’s safety trends and guides improvement for the year ahead.

“From the time we took office, our administration has prioritized the safety of all residents and visitors who share the use of the Commonwealth’s roads,” Gov. Baker said. “Through investments like the ones we are announcing today, we are continuing to work with local partners to strengthen safety for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and communities.”