Toccoa P.D. Gets Grant From GOHS

The Toccoa Police Department receives a grant to help it with the purchase of some new equipment.

Recently, the Toccoa Police Department announced it received a $10,000 grant from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety through that agency’s Small Agency Incentive Grant.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell said the grant will help with the purchase of some new equipment for the department’s patrol cars.

“This grant will be used to help the police department purchase in-car video camera systems and charging equipment and safety lights for our patrol cars,” said Jarrell.

He went on to say that having equipment like this is both an officer safety issue, as well as a community safety issue.

“With today’s technology that is available, the public, as well as the courts, expect for things to be recorded and be available for playback in court, complaints against officers, complaints against the public,” said Jarrell. “With in-car cameras, it not only helps us with that. It also helps us to ensure that the public is being treated fairly and considerately, also to make sure that our officers are conducting themselves in a professional manner at all times.”

Also, Jarrell said he and the police department appreciate the support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in providing these grants.

“In today’s economy and the limitations with budgets, it is very important for the police department to be able to get grants like this,” said Jarrell. “For several years now, we have partnered with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and their small agency incentives and their programs. We are very fortunate to continue to receive these types of grants. We believe in their mission and what they are doing to try to help us to try to keep the streets of Toccoa safer.”

The Toccoa Police Department was one of 24 agencies to receive this grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The grants are awarded based upon the partnership with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in helping to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the state of Georgia.

Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood said the agency is committed to keeping everyone safe on the state’s roads and highways.