Sheriff nets funds for more patrols

Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand announced this week that the Ohio Traffic Safety Office awarded more than $49,600 in federal funding to his department for extra patrols on county roads.

“These funds are critical to ensure that we are doing everything possible to reduce traffic fatalities,” he said.

Based on crash data, the Sheriff’s Office and its partners at the state level have identified fatal and serious injury crashes, speed, impaired driving and seat belt use as priority areas for enforcement in Geauga County.

Crash data shows that from 2015 through 2017, the county had 35 fatal crashes and 1,562

crashes that resulted in injuries. During 2016 alone, the county had 16 fatal crashes.

To reduce these statistics, the Sheriff’s staff will be conducting high-visibility enforcement, working extra hours and conducting education events on traffic safety. The office will be using extra patrols on roads identified as problem areas with emphasis on major thoroughfares.

There were 1,094 fatal crashes on Ohio’s roads in 2017, up from 1,054 in 2016.

“The Sheriff’s Office will work diligently to reduce traffic fatalities and injury

accidents in Geauga County,” Hildenbrand said.

He urged motorists to “do their part” by obeying posted speed limits, using seat belts and by not driving while impaired.

The enforcement activity by his office in fiscal year 2017 resulted in 88 arrests for impaired driving. Deputies also issued 809 citations for speed and 69 citations to people failing to wear a seat belt.

Deputies also arrested several people on outstanding warrants. In addition, enforcement activity resulted in one person being arrested for his third felony OVI, a felony meth lab arrest and a felony robbery arrest. Several other misdemeanor drug and alcohol arrests were made during traffic enforcement.