Carson City Sheriff: Traffic enforcement unit fully staffed with sergeant, 4 deputies
In the fall of 2018, the Carson City Board of Supervisors approved a plan submitted by Sheriff Furlong to fund a Traffic Enforcement Unit in the community. The Sheriff justified his proposal by evidence of rising accident rates and fatalities of both drivers and pedestrians in the area.
The Board accepted the recommendation that funding for the unit be provided by marijuana tax and licensing fees that had been previously in place. At the time of approval, the Sheriff hoped to begin staffing the unit by the spring of 2019, and intended to fully staff the unit within a year after the team was formed.
On track, the initial officers were assigned in April of 2019 after new-hires were in place and trained. As of this month, the final full-time assignment was issued and the team of four Deputies and one Sergeant is now in full force.
Sergeant Mike Cullen, Unit Supervisor, has directed heavy enforcement activities in those areas where fatalities have been suffered the most. In 2019, Carson City witnessed three traffic accident fatalities, two on Highway 50 east of the 580 interchange, and one on Highway 50 West. While these areas are not the only one’s receiving intense patrol coverage, these and school zones are the areas receiving the most intense activities.
While driving behavioral changes come slow, in the recent months we have seen the number of accidents on Highway 50 East declining and the total within the community leveling off. This program adjustment at the Sheriff’s Office is vitally important, as most drivers have an expectation that we have safe streets in the community, for both the drivers and pedestrians alike.
To assist the unit, the department and city Information Technology Department have created automated reports for the unit that maps all accident locations, as well as areas of the community where traffic complaints are being received. These reports are received by the officers each week. Combined with support from the state Office of Traffic Safety, all of our efforts are intended to reduce accidents and save lives.
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