TIPPECANOE CO. Ind. (WLFI)- The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s office is looking to add new equipment that would help patrol officers keep the roads safer.
The county commissioners gave the department the green light to apply for a 25 thousand dollar grant at today's meeting.

The grant would be used to add more Lidar units to patrol officer’s vehicles. These radar units allow police to better track drivers' speed since their vehicle doesn't have to be facing the direction motorists are driving. The department says this new equipment will help with traffic safety in school zones as well.
"This gives officers the opportunity to sit in those school zone areas and get off of the main roadway and be in a safe location while still be able to monitor traffic and monitor the speeds in those school zones,” said Captain Robert Hainje of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office who is in charge of the patrol division.”
The sheriff’s office says this new equipment will also help keep the roads safer since they will be able to more efficiently track motorist’s speeds.
‘This gives us the flexibility to be off the main roadway and it makes it safer for the officers to run traffic enforcement,” added Hainje. “Plus they are able to specifically identify a vehicle in a high congestion area."
Lidar units cost $4,800 per piece of equipment. The department is hoping to add enough units so each of the patrol shifts have one. The grant will also be used to upgrade several of the Tasers officers use as well.