The Pekin Police Department now has a dedicated traffic unit as well as motorcycles for the first time in decades. That’s due to a donation from the Pekin Police Foundation.
The not-for-profit group is made up of business leaders, and is paying for the city to lease two bikes for the department for two years. Two patrol officers will make up the traffic unit.
Police Chief Greg Nelson says a recent citizen survey showed residents are most concerned about traffic issues. But he says responding to emergency calls has been the department’s priority.
“The busiest times of the day sometimes are our rush hours, and we’re busy answering calls and just can’t address traffic like we should. By re-deploying two officers and doing it right…I say doing right in equipping them with motorcycles and the training they need, we’re able to give traffic the priority it deserves and to help keep our streets safe in our city,” said Nelson.
Nelson says the traffic unit enforcement will likely target the two state highways that intersect with the city. The officers will also be on the lookout for accident-causing violations like impaired and distracted driving.