(WFRV) – The Fox Valley Metropolitan Police Department (FVMPD) was presented with a check from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety on Wednesday morning after it was announced they were recipients of a grant.
The Traffic Safety Grant award for 2024 was given so that the department could supplement extra funding that will provide additional safety equipment that wasn’t available in the regular budget.
State Highway 42 in Door County closed in both directions due to crash
“It’s providing essential roadside emergency awareness equipment for us,” Patrol Officer Jason Seavey said.
The FVMPD used some of the funding to purchase durable and high-quality traffic safety vests for all of the officers in the department.
The grant was also used to purchase LED road flares that will aid in their mission of keeping the roads safe and the environment as they’re reusable for years to come. The traditional flares they use are costly, Seavey said, and this will save money in the long term.
November 18-22 is also “Crash Responder Safety Week,” with the theme being “Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed As You Proceed.” The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness and promote safety amongst drivers, especially in crash-response areas.
The funding comes as Little Chute prepares for the expansion project on Interstate 41. But it also comes at an ideal time as Seavey said they’re potentially expecting more travel this season than ever before.
“We expect more travelers along I-41 and I-43 than any other year before,” Seavey said. “This is going to be an extremely busy travel season and a lot more motorists on our roadways, not just in municipal or villages but on highways as well.”
