Randolph is on the road to safety.

Earlier this month, the Randolph Police Department started up a Traffic Safety Unit to increase safety for drivers and pedestrians and reduce the number of accidents.  Randolph Police Chief William Pace said the department hopes to achieve these goals through the use of education, traffic enforcement and visibility.

Through these efforts, Pace hopes to help prevent car crashes keep an eye on those who drive through Randolph. In addition, the program will enhance safety education programs by reaching out to children regarding pedestrian safety.

“This is part of the overall plan to make the streets of Randolph safer,” Pace said.

The program is being funded through a $17,000 Justice Grant and several National Highway Traffic Safety grants, which are ongoing.

    The traffic safety unit consists of Lt. John Courtney as the operations commander, Sgt. Robert LeGrice as the special operations supervisor and patrol officers, Robert Iskra, Marc L’Italien, Kevin Donnelly and Gary Siempos. While acting as the traffic safety unit, these officers will perform school drop off/pick-up safety monitoring, commercial motor vehicle compliance, report roadway defects and maintain a positive relationship with residents through community policing. There are also plans for the traffic unit to have educational programs about roadway safety.

    The new unit will make use of new equipment and vehicles including two Harley Davidson motorcycles, four new radar units and new crosswalk marking signs. 

Before starting the Traffic Safety Unit, Pace said the police department’s traffic unit consisted of “one man on a motorcycle.” The department has not had a full-fledged traffic safety unit in 25 years.