Geneseo Police Receive Increased Grant to Curb Car Accidents

GENESEO – Village Police continue to receive increased grant amounts to decrease the number and severity of accidents on local roads.

According to a press release from Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, they received $13,000 from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee this year, up another four percent from last year.

“That seems to be the trend, a four percent increase year after year, which is good for us,” said Osganian. “We use it to increase enforcement of moving violations like speed, failing to stop for stop signs, and also seat belt and cell phone violations. Our goal is to decrease the total number of accidents in the Village by another five percent.”

The grant covers officers’ overtime wages as increased patrols look for these violations.

Osganian said that accidents have steadily decreased in the village since the department started receiving the grant in 2004.

“In 2008 to 2009 we had a lot more personal injury accidents,” said Osganian. “Fortunately the injuries have been less severe and accidents in general have decreased. The goal with this grant is to push those numbers down even a little lower.”

The Geneseo Police Department receives more money from this grant than several much larger agencies in the state. Geneseo Police now receives $1,600 more from this grant than the Batavia City Police Department and $500 more than the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.