By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore City Council members gave unanimous approval during their Monday (March 10) meeting to an application for a grant that will help pay for the extra patrols Police Chief Chuck Brooks implemented in the wake of the gun violence that plagued the community in November and December.
Brooks told council members the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant, a $75,000 award that will be in effect for an 11-month period, will be valuable tool in the police department’s effort to reduce the chances of more gun-related incidents.
“We have increased patrols all over the city, and it has been very helpful,” the police chief said. “The last couple of months have been uneventful (regarding gun violence), so it’s working. We’ve gotten a lot of narcotics off the streets, and we’ve confiscated a lot of guns.
“The down part of that is, we’re having to pay police officers to do that. I think the STEP grant will help out in these areas.”
STEP, which is supported by funds from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), is utilized by state and local agencies to conduct an array of traffic enforcement efforts, including speeding reduction, occupant protection, pedestrian safety and impaired driving.
“With these funds, we can target speeders and be seen in the neighborhoods,” Brooks said.
Before the 5-0 vote to approve the measure, District 3’s Eunice Johnson gave a brief update on the formation of a strong and valid Neighborhood Watch program in Atmore.
“I’ve done a lot of research, and all I can say is, ‘stay tuned’,” Johnson said. “We’re even looking at forming a Crime Stoppers, where people get paid if their information leads to an arrest.”
That brought to an end a meeting at which Escambia Academy’s basketball team was to receive a proclamation and local resident Chris Boswell was to lodge a complaint about garbage service.
Many of the basketball players also play baseball, and the team had a game Monday afternoon, so they were unable to be there, and Mayor Jim Staff said the garbage complaint was settled prior to the meeting.