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HEAT unit funding soon to expire

State money for a special Dougherty County law enforcement unit will run out later this year.

If Dougherty County doesn't pick up the funding, the county police department could lose an officer in the HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) road enforcement unit.

Chief Don Cheek says that would hurt the program that has made Dougherty County roads safer.

Dawn this blue car stands out from others on purpose and this Unit has a reputation around town and across south Georgia, if you're speeding they'll get you. Dougherty County Police like that and want it to stay that way. 

Since January 2006, the HEAT unit has been building up a reputation on Dougherty County roads. Just the sight of the dark blue car has people reaching.

"They reach for that seat belt it's the first thing they do," said DCP HEAT Officer Cpl. Robert Richard. 

That's exactly what police want, it's taken five years of training drivers with the HEAT cars, many learning the hard way as we found out on East Oakridge Avenue.

"The reason y'all are being stopped is neither of you had a seat belt on, that's the reason you're being stopped," Richard says.

"They didn't have their seat belts on while I was behind them, but now soon as I put my lights on and pulled them over, they put their seat belts on. They came all the way from the Airport Road with no seat belt on.

State budget woes have cut funding for the program and right now the county is working through the budget process to see if they'll pick up the funding or cut one HEAT position.

"The funding for the officer's position has been gradually decreasing each year, this past year I believe it was right around $17,000 that we funded out of budget money," said DCP Chief Don Cheek.

The HEAT units often work in pairs, if one unit is cut, police say it could impact the safety, like reducing the fatality and injury rate police have worked hard to build.

"If we're not able to continue the one HEAT position it's going to take away a lot of the impact of the program," Cheek said.

Compromising the safety results that have saved lives, not to mention the number of other violations police catch when making the stops, like unlicensed drivers and drivers without insurance.

The success this unit has had when it comes to fatal and injury crashes is astonishing. Just in the last year HEAT officers have issued more than 1,600 violations and made 43 DUI arrests.

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