Sidney PD receives traffic safety grant

Sidney Police Department has received an $1,800 grant from the Nebraska Department of Roads Highway Safety Office.

The funds will assist the SPD in obtaining two mobile radar units.

“We qualify for this grant every year,” Police Chief Joe Aikens said. “They pay us up to 50 percent of the costs of the radar units for us and then we actually get a pretty substantial discount by purchasing it through the state.”

The radar equipment is fitted into the department’s patrol units, Aikens said.

“It’s for tracking vehicle speeds when we’re driving down the road, enforcing speed laws,” he said.

Enforcing speed laws is crucial.

“It reduces accidents and pedestrian incidences,” Aikens said. “It keeps our community safer.”

Officer presence also plays an important part in public safety, Aikens said.

“It’s a good deterrent for preventing infraction violations like this,” he said.

There are other benefits for Sidney’s taxpayers, as well.

“We don’t spend as much money on the equipment this way,” Aikens said. “It helps us budgetwise by reducing the cost of this type of equipment.”

The new equipment should arrive in the “next couple of weeks,” Aikens said, and will replace older radar equipment.