Department receives traffic grant

MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Township Police Department has received a third Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program grant of $12,803 through next September.
The first grant three years ago was only a $5,000 partial grant. Last year the department got $18,000, Chief Sam Paganao said.
The amount for this year was reduced because of duplication of activities the police force has as a participant in the Trumbull County DUI Task Force.
The township will use $4,900 of the grant to buy new traffic-related equipment such as radar units and the remainder is used for wages, overtime and benefits resulting from beefed-up regular patrols.
In addition, the department is required under the grant to conduct traffic enforcement programs each year at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and during Child Passenger Safety Month in February.