Southeastern Police Department awarded LHSC grant
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department has been awarded a one year, $10,000 grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) to conduct additional traffic safety enforcement. The primary goal of the grant is to reduce fatal and injury crashes on Louisiana roadways.
"Our students and employees travel the parish roads every day and commute from surrounding parishes," said Lt. Patrick Gipson. "We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely. That's why we conduct highway safety enforcement."
The grant provides funding for officers to work overtime conducting day and night occupant protection and impaired driving enforcement. The University Police Department also plans to participate in the LHSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaigns.
"Enforcement is only part of the effort," explained Harold Todd, director of University Police at Southeastern. "We will also be collaborating with local partners to educate our students about safe driving habits."
Local partners, Todd said, include Tangipahoa – Reshaping Attitudes for Community Change (TRACC), Peer Educators Educating Peers (PEEPs), the Hammond City Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police.
"Our efforts are part of a community-wide effort to save lives," added Todd. "If everyone works together and encourages their friends to drive safely, we can make our parish roadways some of the safest in Louisiana."
