Third of four parts

The Salisbury Township Police Department more than doubled the amount of grants received in 2016, compared to the previous year.

The township police department received $133,416.89 in grants in 2016.

That’s an increase from $57,023 received by the department in 2015.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles released the annual year in review report to commissioners and the media.

However, one of the big sources of grants is not guaranteed.

The Lehigh County Casino grant provided $89,806.65 to the township police department. The grant was used to purchase a patrol vehicle, a license plate reader system, two mobile data terminals, two car-camera systems, nine e-ticket systems and three window-tint meters.

The county casino grant also provided $11,373.80 for traffic stops in the Casino Traffic Safety Corridor, resulting in 242 vehicle stops, 353 traffic citations and seven arrests. These arrests included those for possession of controlled substances, using altered or fraudulent state documents, three DUIs, felony fleeing police, possession of alcohol by a minor, depositing debris on a highway and apprehending a wanted fugitive.

Casino revenue also improved bi-county data collection. In 2016, Northampton County joined the Lehigh County Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center through a $407,000 gaming grant received by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department.

Casinos have had to pay 2 percent of slot machine revenue or $10 million to a municipality where it’s based. Mount Airy Casino, Monroe County, won a legal ruling that the varying rates of host fees is unconstitutional. The state legislature is attempting to rewrite the law.

Meanwhile, casino funding for 2017 is uncertain.

Annually, Allentown has received $3.5 mil lion, Bethlehem, $8.8 million; Lehigh County, $960,000, and Northampton County, $2.9 million.

Salisbury’s casino grant funds are provided by Lehigh County because of the effect of the Casino Traffic Safety Corridor (East Emmaus Avenue, East Susquehanna Street, Broadway and Seidervsille Road) access to the South Side Bethlehem Sands Casino on township traffic and law enforcement.

Traffic safety and enforcement grants received by the township totaled $26,547.69 in 2016, up from $22,958.70 in 2015.

In addition to the casino grant, grants in 2016 included an Aggressive Driving Enforcement Grant from The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation of $3,372.71, which resulted in 326 vehicle stops and 437 traffic citations.

Also, a Buckle Up Pa. PennDOT grant of $5,851.45 resulted in 221 vehicle stops and 300 traffic citations. A Buckle Up Pa. PennDOT Child-Safety Awareness grant of $2,979.90 resulted in 674 motorists contacted.

A DUI Enforcement PennDOT grant for roving patrols and check points of $2,969.83 resulted in 15 vehicle stops, 14 DUI arrests, 14 traffic citations and two drug arrests.

In all, for 2016, the township police department listed 804 vehicle stops, 1,104 traffic citations, 14 DUIs and four non-traffic citations.

Traffic enforcement grants pay overtime of off-duty patrol officers who conduct traffic enforcement in designated areas of the township.

Senior Patrol Officer Bryan Losagio, township police department traffic safety coordinator, conducted the grant-funded traffic enforcement.

Losagio also completed 23 traffic speed studies in the township.

Also, the township police department received from St. Luke’s University Hospital EMS a $15,700 grant, used to purchase automatic emergency defibrillators, AED pads, AED cases, medical gloves, Quick Response System medical supplies, infection control supplies, air-pack cylinders and oxygen refills.

As of 2016, the township police department received $1,164,383 in local, Commonwealth and federal grants since 1995.

The police department 2016 budget was $2,082,200. The township 2016 budget was $8,187,600.

Police department revenue was $138,071.74 in 2016, compared to $115,471.79 in 2015.

Next week: Part 4, Salisbury Township Police Department 2016 Annual Report, K-9 Patrol, Hunting Permits, Fire Inspection Fees.