Earlier this month, University of Nevada, Reno Police Services was awarded $6,500 in grant funds to participate in the Nevada Joining Forces Program. Joining Forces is a statewide initiative to encourage safe driving practices by enforcing specific traffic laws during scheduled events. Officers will focus on enforcing speed, pedestrian safety, impaired and distracted driving and seatbelt laws. The overall goal of the program is to reduce or eliminate traffic related injuries and fatalities in Nevada.
“Joining Forces is all about partnerships,” University Chief of Police Adam Garcia said. “We have hosted enforcement events around campus with support from the Reno Police Department, the Washoe County Sherriff’s Office, Nevada Highway Patrol and others. The program coordinators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have praised Nevada for the spirit of cooperation that exists here and for the success of the Nevada program. They encourage other states to follow our lead.”
University Police is one of 28 Nevada law enforcement agencies participating in Joining Forces. Grant funds will be used for officer overtime for planned enforcement events. Each participating agency receives funds based on agency size and ability to conduct traffic enforcement. The grants allow agencies the unique opportunity to coordinate efforts and resources to educate the public, and to enforce Nevada traffic laws.
“By working together, our local agencies can have a greater impact on roadway safety in our communities,” Garcia said.
Funding for the enforcement events is awarded through the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, a division of the Department of Public Safety, and is the federally recognized highway safety office in the state of Nevada.
