The Candler County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce it has received a $26,700.00 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).
The grant will help establish a GOHS High-Visibility Enforcement Program, focusing on reducing speed-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities, as well as increasing overall seatbelt usage in Candler County. Under the award, CCSO will operate a special traffic enforcement program, primarily working outside regular patrol shifts, with the mission of reducing speed-related crashes and promoting the use of occupant restraints. The project includes the purchase of two LIDAR units dedicated to the program, as well as funding for coordination efforts with regional traffic enforcement partners.
“Innovative projects like this are designed with the intent for Georgia and our nation to reach the realistic goal of zero traffic deaths by the middle of this century,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Each life saved on our roads is one less family that will have to live with the pain of losing a loved one whose life was taken from them in a traffic crash that was completely preventable.” “The Candler County Sheriff’s Office is committed to moving forward, striving to improve the service we provide, strengthening our partnership with the community, and finding better ways to protect the people of Candler County,” said Capt. Justin Wells, Program Administrator for the CCSO GOHS project. “This grant strengthens our ability to do exactly that by focusing on the areas where the risks are greatest. It allows us to address these problem areas without pulling resources from patrol deputies already on duty.” Our citizens will see no reduction in service; in fact, this enhancement will increase the level of service our community receives every day. We are grateful for this opportunity, and we value the strong partnership we share with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and with the citizens we serve here in Candler County.” The grant year for this award will be October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
The Candler County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county, dedicated to protecting life and property, preserving the peace, and enhancing traffic safety through enforcement, education, and community partnerships. This project is intended not only to reduce crashes and improve restraint use during the grant year but also to demonstrate program success that could support applications for continued funding and the eventual establishment of more dedicated resources.
For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996. For more information about the Candler County Sheriff’s Office GOHS project or to be added to the scheduling pool, contact Capt. Justin Wells at 9126852568 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information on the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org. ##
