The Smithfield Police Department has been awarded a Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) grant. Police Chief Keith Powell had applied for the grant in March 2020. The three year grant will cover the majority of the cost for a two-officer traffic team.
The first year of the grant is valued at $191,852. The town’s portion is $33,856. The grant will cover the cost of the patrol cars, equipment, radios, video cameras, officer salaries and benefits, officer equipment, fuel and radar units.
“It will allow us to create a two-person traffic safety team,” Police Chief Keith Powell said. “They are going to be working on traffic and speeding complaints, and areas where a lot of accidents take place. They are also going to be working on related traffic safety programs and checkpoints, all centered around traffic and traffic safety.”
Chief Powell said he personally receives speed complaints on a daily basis. He hopes the two officers can be hired and on the streets of Smithfield by the end of the year.
