Southeastern Police Department receives grant
Thursday, December 5, 2019
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department has been awarded
a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to participate in the LHSC and
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive
Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns. The primary goal of the grant is to reduce crash-related
fatalities and injuries on Louisiana roadways.
“Our students and employees travel the city and state roadways every day including
commutes from surrounding parishes,” said Patrick Gipson, police lieutenant at Southeastern.
“We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely. That’s why we conduct traffic
safety enforcement.”
The grant provides funding for officers to work overtime conducting day and night
occupant protection and impaired driving enforcement.
“Enforcement is only part of the effort,” explained Gipson. “We will also be
collaborating with local partners to educate about safe driving habits.”
Gipson listed partners including Tangipahoa – Reshaping Attitudes for Community
Change, Hammond City Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana
State Police.
“Our activities are part of a community-wide effort to save lives,” added Gipson.
“If everyone works together and encourages their friends to drive safely, we can make
our parish roadways some of the safest in Louisiana.”
