NORTH TONAWANDA – The North Tonawanda Police Department is increasing police presence during Christmas and New Year’s Eve with the help of state funds secured by State Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) earlier this year. Senator Ortt secured a total of $7,500 in the 2015-16 State Budget for the North Tonawanda Police Department to help the agency operate more effectively and efficiently while protecting communities. A portion of the money is being used to offset overtime costs for officers patrolling the streets during the holiday season and addressing concerns from neighbors in order to deter crime.

The rest of the funding has been used to purchase one radar unit for traffic enforcement and to buy an enclosed trailer to store essential equipment for easy transport in emergency situations, or for other public safety measures, including DWI checkpoints.