BURLINGTON — There won't be a radar gun every 100 yards, but drivers who traverse Boone County will soon see a larger police presence.

        County Sheriff Mike Helmig and Boone County Police Chief Jim Whalen are meeting this week to figure out how to use a $50,000 state joint highway safety grant that would pay overtime for officers from both the Boone County Sheriff's and Boone County Police departments.

        Chief Whalen said the extra patrols should be in place within two weeks along I-275 and state and county routes.

        Sheriff Helmig said Tuesday the reason for increasing patrols is simple: Boone County is one of the fastest- growing counties in Kentucky.

        “We have (Interstate) 71/75, I-275,” Sheriff Helmig said. “Some of the busiest interchanges in the nation run throughout our county.”

        Some of the details still need to be worked out, including:

        • Who will supervise the officers working on the grant-funded effort. One possibility is to have a sergeant from one of the departments oversee the patrols.

        • Where to concentrate the patrols. Part of the reason is there are so many areas that need attention in addition to the interstates — Ky. 18, U.S. 25, U.S. 42, and numerous subdivisions.

        • Whether officers will concentrate on a certain type of offense. Sheriff Helmig did not not have data on specific crimes — speeding, DUIs, seat belt violations — but he said they all would get attention.

        Boone County is divided into three patrol districts: from Ky. 18 north to the Ohio River; between Ky. 18 and Ky. 338; and from Ky. 338 south to the borders of Grant and Kenton counties.

        Sheriff Helmig said there is no direct connection between increasing police patrols and the tougher DUI law that went into effect Sunday, lowering the legal blood-alcohol content to 0.08.

        “That would be one focus of it,” he said.

        Creating a separate traffic enforcement unit was one of 26 recommendations a study the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute has recommended for the county.

        The study also advised against merging the two departments. Chief Whalen said the county will pursue other grants that would allow hiring up to four extra officers full-time instead of simply paying overtime to those already here.

        His only complaint: that the U of L study has made it harder to convince people the two departments are not moving closer to merging.

        “Everything we've done is met with suspicion because of the merger study,” Chief Whalen said.

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