Police Round-Up: DUI Enforcement Grant, FTPD/Hoxworth Blood Drive, New Recruits Wanted, Drug Disposal Program

by PAT LaFLEUR 
Police Reporter, Fort Thomas Matters

Here's your round-up of news coming out of Fort Thomas Police headquarters over the last two weeks:

DUI Enforcement Grant

The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has recently allocated a grant of over $15,000 to the Fort Thomas Police Department. The funds are part of an initiative to increase patrols for intoxicated drivers in Northern Campbell County.

According to FTPD Lt. James Gadzala, the officer who applied for the grant, this will mean an increase in street-patrolling for DUI-related incidents. "It will enable us to dedicate an officer to DUI enforcement several times a month," he said, "and will pay for all of the officers' overtime, gas for cruisers and court time." The FTPD will also use part of the grant money to purchase two new preliminary breath test devices. 

The grant money comes from DUI fines collected from convicted drunk drivers all across the state, which is then allocated to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for dispersement to police departments. The FTPD first received the grant back in 2009.

(Here's FTM's detailed coverage of why Fort Thomas needs this extra DUI enforcement grant.)

Hoxworth Blood Drive

The FTPD will partner with the Hoxworth Blood Center and the University of Cincinnati to host a blood drive this Tuesday, October 22. The blood drive will take place between noon and 6 PM in the Fire Department parking lot (behind the city building, 130 N. Ft. Thomas Ave.). 

To donate, you must be 17 years old (or, 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and provide a photo I.D. It is recommended to eat a full meal within four hours of your donation, and to drink plenty of fluids before and after donating. 

To schedule an appointment, visit Hoxworth's event page or call (513) 451-0910. Use the group code A896. 

Applications for Police Recruits

The FTPD is currently accepting applications for new police recruits. Applicants must be 21 years old at the time of hire, with a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate and valid driver's license.

The recruitment process first involves timely submission of the recruitment application and a written test. The ten highest scoring written tests will then be entered into an eligibility list, which remains in effect for two years. Those ten highest scores then submit to a physical agility test, and finalists for recruitment then sit for an oral interview. 

The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, November 1, by 4 PM. The next written test will be administered on Saturday, November 9 at 8 AM, at Highlands Middle School.

For more information, here is the complete recruitment brochure, or call Melissa Kelly at (859) 572-1202.

Drug Disposal Program

The FTPD now offers a complimentary drug disposal service to residents of Fort Thomas, in support of law enforcement and environmental issues. Residents may drop off unwanted or outdated prescription medications in a drop box located in the city building lobby (130 N. Ft. Thomas Ave.) during normal business hours. The program is sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, Kentucky Crime Prevention Coalition, Northern Kentucky Water District, and Northern Kentucky Sanitation District (SD 1).