Stonington ― The police department has announced that beginning Monday it will begin a grant-funded enforcement program in school zones and other areas where speeding has been a problem.

“We have had many complaints of speeding to the police commission, and this is addressing some of those areas,” Deputy Chief Todd Olson said, adding that it will also address data collected from speed enforcement signs around town that detail where and when significant speeding takes place.

Olson said Chief of Police Jay DelGrosso worked on the $5,000 American Rescue Plan Act Rural Speed Enforcement grant for several months, and the department received the award, which it can reapply for several times, last month.

Olson said the department has identified the areas it will focus on and assigned veteran Sgt. Keith Beebe to manage the locations and manning for the program.

“This is going to be on-going until there’s no more funds to cover it,” Olson said, adding, “our goal isn’t to issue tickets; our goal is to slow traffic down and make sure people get to their destination safely.”