Apache Junction police receive grant for 3 Grappler vehicle bumpers

A resolution retroactively approving submission of four grants totaling more than $84,000 for the police department — including the purchase of three Grappler police bumpers to immobilize vehicles that are fleeing — will be discussed by the Apache Junction City Council Monday and voted on Tuesday.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 for a work session and 7 p.m. Oct. 15 for a meeting in the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

The Grapplers are needed in part because of development south of Baseline Road and increased traffic.

“With this growth, there will be additional roadways and a significant increase in speeding, aggressive/reckless driving and vehicles failing to yield,” it states in a highway safety grant agreement. “The requested funding will be used to purchase Grappler police bumper systems. These are de-escalation tools that can be used to immobilize vehicles that are fleeing, refusing to stop and also to safely stop runaway vehicles where the driver is incapacitated due to medical issues. A portion of the requested funding will be used for overtime for officers to participate in speed enforcement patrols and proactively address traffic safety concerns.”

A total of $84,801 in grants have been sought from Governor’s Office of Highway Safety as projects for the Arizona 2025 Highway Safety Plan, Police Chief Michael Pooley said in a memo to the council. They are:

• $59,801 for police traffic services for Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs overtime, three Grappler police bumpers.
• $15,000 for the impaired-driving program for Driving Under the Influence overtime.
• $5,000 for occupant protection for occupant protection overtime.
• $5,000 for pedestrian and bicycle safety for pedestrian and bicycle enforcement.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety sought proposals from state and local agencies for highway safety projects with a submittal deadline of March 8, 2024, according to the resolution.

The city of Apache Junction through the police department on March 7 submitted projects to be considered for funding in the form of reimbursable grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and on Aug. 20 the GOHS awarded the grants requests to AJPD, it states.