The provincial government is handing about $1.7-million in funding to the Chatham-Kent Police Service through a new Community Safety and Policing Grant. 
The money will be doled out over the next three years.
A total of $25,000 has been earmarked for the holiday RIDE program targeting impaired drivers.
The remainder will offset costs in the Community Mobilization Unit, Mobile Crisis Team, Youth Officer and Public Information Officer.
Provincial officials say the CSP Grants build on the $105.4-million both the provincial and federal governments have invested to date to combat gun and gang violence across the province through the Ontario Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.
Police services will be required to report annually on the outcomes of initiatives, such as an increase in support for front-line officers and/or an increase in community safety and well-being, for both the local and provincial priorities funding streams of the CSP grant program.
