Grant Funding Makes Alton Safer
The city of Alton, population 31,000, has a police department of 59 sworn officers. There are over 190 miles of city streets and state maintained highways. The state routes, IL 140/143/3/I-255 and U.S. 67 are main thoroughfares for the city. The Clark Bridge was completed in 1994 and the opening of Missouri Highway 367 has created a large increase in traffic. This increase occurs normally during business hours and causes a lot of minor crashes. At night traffic crashes become more severe, typically due to impaired driving.
The Alton Police Department has participated in IDOT/DTS grant-funding for ten years. In 2007 the department experienced six fatal crashes and 231 crashes involving injury of 1,887 total crashes. That same year, the Alton Police Department made 221 DUI, 1,433 safety belt and 2,341 speeding arrests.
Due to these increasing numbers, more enforcement funding was required. In 2008, the Alton Police Department applied for, and was awarded, SPEED, MAP and IMaGE grants. With the assistance of these grants, the department made 376 DUI, 2,348 safety belt and 1,496 speeding arrests. That same year the department investigated zero fatal traffic crashes and saw a reduction in the total number of crashes (1,732), as well as injury-related crashes (218). The department believes the increased enforcement, made possible by IDOT/DTS grants, played an important part in the overall reduction in fatal and injury traffic crashes.
This year, as in the past, the Alton Police Department has done an exceptional job in traffic enforcement, utilizing the “high-visibility” enforcement options of safety belt enforcement zones and roadside safety checks. The department participated in all holiday mobilizations plus the optional extra enforcement periods.
During grant enforcement hours this year, Alton made more than 2,500 vehicle stops. From these stops the following arrests were made:
108 DUI arrests
1,117 safety belt violations
58 child passenger restraint violations
37 felonies
106 fugitives apprehended
159 suspended or revoked
435 uninsured
26 drug arrests
564 speeders
476 other arrests
In addition to the increase in traffic safety within the city of Alton, the traffic safety grant enforcement details have also assisted the department in seeing an overall reduction in violent crime. During each grant enforcement period, officers make numerous violent crime fugitive arrests, as well as arrests for narcotics and weapons-related offenses. During our most recent Labor Day enforcement period, officers recovered a loaded handgun from a parolee as a result of a stop made in an occupant protection enforcement zone. The occupants were not wearing safety belts. The parolee was a passenger in the vehicle. His weapon was recovered and he was arrested for a previously unsolved Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm case that was being investigated by the department.
The Alton Police Department continues to experience the benefits of participation in IDOT/DTS grants. The department experienced one fatal traffic crash and 107 injury-related crashes from a total of 974 traffic crashes this year.
IDOT appreciates the continued participation of the Alton Police Department and the hard work of all of their officers.
~ By: Sgt. Mike Gordon (Alton grant project director) and Richard Allan LEL
