MEXICO – For the second consecutive year, the Mexico Police Department has received a grant from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife that will provide overtime pay for police officers patrolling on all-terrain vehicles.

Sgt. Roy Hodsdon said the department received $7,160, about $1,000 more than last year.

The Mexico Police Department will work with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, the Warden Service and other law enforcement agencies to educate ATV riders and to patrol ATV trails in Mexico, Rumford, Roxbury, Byron, Andover and Dixfield.

Hodsdon said the funds will pay overtime for Mexico officers to patrol the trails with one of the department’s two ATVs.

He said officers will also talk with landowners about use of their property by ATV riders.

Hodsdon said patrols will be scheduled during weekdays, weekends and nights. Patrols will also hand out safety and law brochures, created by Hodsdon, governing ATV operation.

The ATV patrols will begin immediately and are scheduled to run periodically through Dec. 1.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife had $90,000 available for ATV grants, and requests for $115,000.

Mexico Police Chief Jim Theriault said his town did pretty well.