Sheriff looks to bring motorcycle cops to the streets

Traffic-safety unit awaits public hearing before commission

Last year, Grant County had more traffic fatalities than Spokane County, despite having a much smaller population.

So the Grant County Sheriff's Office hopes a new traffic-safety unit will change that.

The sheriff's office received a $5,000 grant from State Farm Insurance and worked out a deal to lease three Harley Davidson motorcycles for $1 per year.

"It will give another tool for the officers, and we want to do it in the most cost-effective way possible," Grant County Detective Joe Kriete said.

Kriete added collision rates are directly related to amount of enforcement out on roads. From May 2002 to May 2003, motorists suffered a 42 percent increase in collisions on Grant County roads, and sheriff's deputies issued 14 percent fewer citations. Calls for service to other emergencies, such as domestic violence, have risen about 15 percent, meaning fewer officers are available to enforce traffic violations, Kriete said.

The city of Spokane recently began its own traffic-safety program, and the city noticed a drop in collisions right away, Kriete said.

Sheriff Frank De Trolio first lobbied Grant County commissioners for a six-officer program last July but was eventually turned down because of budget concerns.

So sheriff's office personnel set out to find funds. State Farm Insurance was the first to step up, and Kriete said he hopes other insurance companies will donate funds because fewer collisions equal lower insurance costs.

Taxpayers shell out $1.04 million per fatality crash, Kriete said.

"We've been paying a lot of money in this county because the collision rate has been so high," Kriete said.

Commissioners approved the Traffic Safety Revolving Fund on Aug. 12. Commissioner Leroy Allison said a public hearing must be held before the commission can vote to approve the spending of the funds.

No new officers will be hired for the unit, Kriete said.

Undersheriff Ken Kernan said the unit will pay for itself because of the increase in citations. For example, Spokane police made enough money to double the size of its traffic-safety unit, he said.

In Grant County, the sheriff's office did a one-week experiment to augment patrol with deputies specifically focused on traffic patrol.

"Those guy made enough money to pay for their wages that week," Kernan said.

The increase did not come from a lack of awareness by motorists, either, he said. The new unit was featured on television news, and the city of Spokane even informed motorists approximately where the officers would be, Kernan said.

When the Grant County enforcement officers hit the street, the sheriff's office will inform county citizens via the media, Kernan said.

The biggest expense for the motorcycles will be the one-time cost of purchasing and equipping lights and sirens for the motorcycles, which will cost $4,449, Kernan said.

The Billings, Mont. Harley Davidson dealer will also charge $550 for labor and equipment installation, he said.

Kernan added that any private citizen interested in donating funds can contact the sheriff's office at 754-2011.

"Anybody that wants to listen to us, we'll talk to them," he said.