Canton, Cherokee County, Ga. December 5, 2007- For the third year in a row, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a state grant for highway safety. The H.E.A.T. Grant (Highway Enforcement Aggressive Traffic) was awarded in the amount of $125,800.00 and will used to support the three man unit. Two of the officers in the unit are funded by the state and one is funded by the county.

The H.E.A.T. unit focuses on traffic offenses, aggressive driving, and fatal traffic accidents. The unit reviews these accidents and considers contributing factors in order to take steps to prevent them from occurring. Cherokee county statistics for 2007 indicate more than 2800 accidents have been investigated by the sheriff's office. Twenty of these accidents have resulted in fatalities. The HEAT unit has issued more than 2000 citations for speeding, 300 seat belt violations, and arrested 272 persons for driving under the influence this year.

Sgt. William Thompson supervises the HEAT unit and also involved in community outreach programs involving drunk and aggressive driving.