The Boulder City Police Department was recently given a $37,500 grant by the Nevada Department of Public Safety for its involvement in the Joining Forces program that helps promote traffic safety in the community.
According to officer Tiffany Driscoll, the funds, which are part of a larger federal grant that is distributed throughout the Las Vegas Valley each year, will help pay for officer overtime. In September, the department received an additional $10,000 award for being one of the state department’s top Joining Forces Agencies of the Year.
Those funds will be used to upgrade radar units in older patrol cars.
“We want to make sure everyone in Boulder City knows what the traffic rules are. We’re not out there to catch you, we’re out there to keep you safe,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll, an eight-year veteran of the department, was recently named top co-coordinator of the year for her coordination of the enforcement activities and grant funding.
The funding also will help provide for officers from other jurisdictions to come to town to assist local police focus on problem areas where traffic safety issues are prevalent. Additionally, Boulder City police can assist other agencies over the hill.
“Our officers will sometimes go to Henderson and Metro to help them,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll warned drivers that regardless of the jurisdiction, officers from outside agencies still have the ability to pull drivers over if they are breaking the law.
“Citizens should be aware that, with few exceptions, any peace officer in Nevada can enforce laws in any part of the state, regardless of their home jurisdiction,” Driscoll said. “We welcome officers from our partnering agencies to help us keep Boulder City roads safe.”
The Boulder City Police Department will participate in 14 Joining Forces events scheduled for fiscal year 2014-15. The events will focus on the department’s efforts to increase seat belt use, ensure pedestrian safety, decrease distracted driving, increase intersection safety and decrease impaired driving.
According to Driscoll, Boulder City has only had one traffic-related fatality in the past two and a half years.
Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.