Schools reopen August 8 & Kingsport Police Department plans extra safety patrols
Kingsport City Schools will begin classes on August 08, 2011, and due to the extra amount of traffic in and around the Kingsport City Schools, the Kingsport Police Department will be assigning extra traffic patrols in and around each school zones.
For the past several years, the Police Department has assigned officers and used high visibility patrols in the school zones to reduce crashes, assist traffic movements and keep parents and students safe. This year, a grant through the Governors Highway Safety Office will allow the Police Department to assign extra officers to patrol surrounding streets beyond specific school zones.
Officers will be doing the extra patrols during the morning and afternoon hours before classes start and ending after classes are completed for the day. The Kingsport Police Department wants to remind motorists to use full caution in the school zones, be vigilant for children and parents walking to school, watch for school buses loading and unloading students, plan ahead, and prepare to be patient due to the extra traffic and sometimes changing traffic patterns.
Traffic Supervisor Sergeant Joe Earles also stated the Kingsport Police Department is dedicated to making the roadways safe for the citizens of Kingsport.