By Sarah Moskowitz
Martinez presented two grants on behalf of Governor George Pataki to the Village totaling close to $53,000. A $24,480 grant, courtesy of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, will be used to provide more secure traffic safety within the village. A $28,000 grant from the Division of Criminal Justice Services, which oversees state roadway law enforcement and coordinates it locally, was given to the Malverne Police Department to be used for vehicle equipment.
"This is a good day for Malverne when the state recognizes the exceptional job being performed by our police department in their effort to make our streets safe," said Deputy Mayor Donald Pupke upon accepting the grant.
The donation from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee is divided into subcategories to be directed towards separate uses. The largest amount, $8,480, will go towards alcohol-related safety programs to educate motorists on the dangers of drinking and driving. Six thousand dollars will be used to enforce the zero-tolerance seat belt law under a campaign known as Buckle Up New York and another $5,000 for Child Restraint, which mandates that children under 4-years-old must be kept in vehicle seats meeting federal standards and children under 16-years-old riding in the backseat must wear seatbelts. The remaining $5,000 goes toward selective traffic enforcement programs to provide information and education to prevent impaired driving.
Malverne was selected and approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services in August to receive the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for police equipment. The department competed with many other applicants from around the state for the grant. Malverne Chief of Police Glen Jacobsen said the department really appreciates the grants, which will help to make Malverne streets even safer.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services grant will be used by the Malverne Police Department to purchase Mobile Date Terminals so officers can check driving licenses and records from their cars, Mobile In Car Video Systems to videotape patrolling stops and Automatic External Defibrillators to provide medical treatment in an emergency while on duty.
The village will have until October 2003 to make use of the grant. Over the next year the Division of Criminal Justice Services will assist the village and police and provide guidance for this project.
"The DMV and the GTSC are pleased to make this award to the village," said Martinez, who has family living in Malverne for many years. "We know the money will be put to good use."
