Boone County Sheriff’s Department applies for MODOT grants

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is asking county commissioners for state money to step up DWI enforcement and education. The grants the department is asking for total more than $100,000.

Sheriff’s Department officials said Boone County ranks as one of the deadliest counties in the state for drivers. To help keep county roads safer, the department is asking the commissioners to approve four MODOT grant applications — totaling almost $120,000. “It allows us to bring people in — in addition to the staffing that we have and go out there and really concentrate on the highway safety issues,” said Sgt. Brian Leer with Bonne County Sheriff’s Department.

Mainly, the money would go toward paying the overtime for bringing in additional deputies for alcohol enforcement, which includes sobriety check points and DWI saturation. “You see stuff around 4th of July weekend and the holiday enforcement periods. In addition to that, we do it year-round — We try to do one or two enforcement campaigns every single month,” said Leer.

The Sheriff’s Department has been using the grant funding since 2006. One of the grants pays for half the salary for two traffic unit positions. Officials said the funding goes a long way in achieving their safety goals. “Maybe we can make a difference and save some lives is what it all come down to,” said Leer.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department said the grants ensure it has enough deputies for additional enforcement and will not cost the department any extra money. If the grant applications are approved by the commission, the funding would come from the state — through MODOT.