Recommend approval to adopt a resolution accepting the 2019/2020 HEAT grant award from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in the amount of $96,208.25. In 2016, the Savannah Police Department applied for and received a Highway Safety Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) unit grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).

The program is designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities by high visibility enforcement targeting impaired drivers, speeders, aggressive/distracted drivers, and motorists who fail to utilize safety devices. Since its inception, the Unit, staffed with three dedicated officers and vehicles, has worked diligently to advance the program’s objectives. According to SPD’s most recent statistics, the HEAT unit issued 11,977 citations resulting in 959 arrests, including 784 for impaired driving, representing significantly increased enforcement activity since 2016 Earlier this year, SPD was invited by the GOHS to apply to renew the grant for federal fiscal year 2020 (Oct. 2019 – Sept. 2020). Subject to the approval of City Council, SPD has been awarded $96,208.25 in funds, which will be applied to continue the HEAT unit’s purpose: reduction in traffic-related crime, serious injuries, and fatalities on the City’s streets.

Acceptance of this grant, encumbers the City of Savannah’s General Fund by $42,109.68 in 2019, $126,329.03 in 2020.

Approval