According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a traffic safety grant by Governor Kay Ivey through the Alabama Department of Economic Development's (ADECA) Highway Traffic Safety Office.  Sheriff Shaver said, "The funds will be used for extra patrols across Cherokee County in order to promote traffic safety, protect our citizens, and prevent crime."

The main focus of ADECA's Highway Traffic Safety Office is to reduce the number of traffic related injuries and fatalities. The Sheriff's Office will utilize the funds for deputies to work extra shifts and conduct high visibility enforcement, extra patrols, and checkpoints on roadways that have been identified as problem areas.

According to Sheriff Shaver, the Sheriff's Office expects increased arrests will be made for impaired driving and felony drug arrests during these extra patrol shifts. Sheriff Shaver added he appreciates the relationship between the Sheriff's Office and ADECA and their efforts in administering this grant, which begins in October 2017.