Grant Will Boost Street Patrols In Indy

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is giving $22,000 to help with street patrols around Indianapolis.

The organization awarded the grant money, Thursday, because of the work officers did in 2013. The money is going to the Department of Public Safety and Marion County Traffic Safety Partnership - a collaboration between IMPD and other local police agencies.

Capt. Chris Boomershine says the money was awarded because the partnership was picked as one of the best in enforcing seat belt, child restraint and impaired driving laws.

"I don't think you are going to find a harder working bunch of officers than in the metropolitan area of Indianapolis with our brother and sister agencies," he said.  "The number of tickets that we write, the number of misdemeanor arrests, felonies, DUIs are all considered by the state when they look at awards and recognizing partnerships."

Boomershine says the funds will pay for equipment to detect drunk drivers, and improve other enforcement efforts.

"These devices will be used in the detection and stopping of aggressive, dangerous drivers, DUIs offenders, habitual traffic violators, suspended drivers," he said.  "These are all going to be the tools of that trade that help us enforce the laws and catch the worst drivers in the city of Indianapolis."

Last year, the partnership’s Operation Pullover initiative resulted in 819 DUI arrests.

He expects the equipment to be on the streets this fall.