Child Safety Day - Fun and Successful

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, The Amherst Police conducted a Child Safety Day at The UPS Store on University Drive. The event was sponsored by The Amherst Police Department, The Molly Bish Foundation, and The UPS Store. The Amherst Fire and University of Massachusetts Police departments were also on hand with exhibits and information.

This event gave parents the opportunity to obtain safety information including Child ID Kits with current photographs and fingerprints of their children. Together with The Molly Bish Foundation, Officers fingerprinted and photographed more than 150 children. Amherst Officers also ensured that child safety seats were properly installed. In conjunction with this event, The American Red Cross was on hand for a blood drive as well.

The Amherst Police would like to thank all of the day’s participants and to extend a special thank you to Athena’s Pizza and Wings Over Amherst for providing food and refreshments for all of the volunteers.

The day’s events helped reinforce the importance of child safety to the community and to public safety.

The event is made possible by grant funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Community Policing Grant Program.

Bike Safety From APD: Helmet Give-Away

The Amherst Police Department will be continuing its promotion of bicycle safety and sponsoring two FREE bike helmet give-aways this fall. The first give-away will be on September 24th, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at Village Park Apartments, in Amherst. The second will take place on October 5th, from 1 pm to 5 pm, at The Boulders Apartments, also in Amherst. Additional information can be obtained from Officer Humber at 413-259-3000.

The event is made possible by grant funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Community Policing Grant Program.

Police & Seniors Cook-Out - 9/25/08

Amherst Police Chief Charles L. Scherpa is pleased to announce the date of the annual police and seniors cook-out. Co-sponsored by the Amherst SALT Council (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) and the Police Department, the annual cook-out is a great event that gives the senior citizen community the opportunity to meet some of our Amherst Police Officers.

This year's cook-out is scheduled for Thursday, September 25th, from 11 am -1 pm. It will be held under a tent in front of the station at 111 Main St. To arrange for your free lunch ticket, contact SALT Council President Mr. Robert Joy at 253-7059 or Nancy Pagano at the Senior Center at 259-3114. Space is limited, so please call today.

One Weekend At A Time

Weekend activity report for Friday, September 12, 2008, through Sunday, September 14, 2008:

The streets of Amherst were abuzz with activity late into the morning hours of both Saturday and Sunday mornings this weekend, but, for the most part, those out and about played by the rules.

The Amherst Police Department responded to 222 calls for service, and 26 people were either placed under arrest or issued a criminal summons. Some of these individuals may face more than one criminal charge. A breakdown of these charges follows:

Assault and Battery: 1

Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon: 2

Disorderly Conduct: 2

Firearm w/o FID Card, Possess: 1

Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle: 1

OUI Liquor: 3
Person Under 21 Possess Liquor: 8

Person Under 21 Procure Liquor: 1

Protective Custody (non-criminal): 1

Sell/Deliver Liquor to Person Under 21: 4

TBL Open Container of Alcohol: 5

TBL Unlawful Noise: 2

TBL Unlicensed Keg: 4

Child ID Day to be Held 9/20/08

On Saturday, September 20th, 2008, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the Amherst Police Department, in partnership with the Amherst Fire Department, the University of Massachusetts Police Department, the UPS Store, and The Molly Bish Foundation, will be hosting a Child Identification Day. Families that attend will be provided with a Child Identification Kit for each of their children. The kit is free of charge and it will consist of a photograph of the child’s head and shoulders and a card with the child’s fingerprints. The Child ID Kit also contains a list of 8 essential rules for safety that parents can review with their children. We urge all parents to take advantage of this opportunity. According to the Department of Justice, 2,000 children go missing everyday and an identification kit could be invaluable.

The Amherst Police and the University of Massachusetts Police departments will also be conducting free child passenger safety seat inspections. The inspections will be conducted by officers who are certified inspectors.

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Amherst Chief of Police Charles Scherpa and the entire Amherst Police Department, along with their partners in this project, are committed to keeping our children safe. This event will be held rain or shine at the UPS Store at 6 University Dr., Amherst, MA. For more information, please contact Amherst Police Sergeant Michael Sullivan at 413-259-3000 or sullivanm@amherstma.gov or Dan Feldman of the UPS Store at 413-549-1070.

This event is funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Community Policing Grant Program.

Officer in the Right Place at the Right Time

On Friday night, September 5th, Officer Jared Tivnan was exactly where he needed to be.

At approximately 10 pm the Amherst Police received a call from a resident at 54 Bridge St. who stated that an unknown person had broken into his house and taken his laptop computer. The resident chased this person out of the house and towards Market Hill Road, but he did not chase the suspect very far. Instead, he returned to his house and called 911.

Officer Tivnan was in the area on a motor vehicle stop when this call came over the radio. Tivnan quickly ended his stop and headed towards Bridge Street looking for the suspect, who was described by Dispatch as a black male wearing a black shirt and a backwards baseball hat. Tivnan began an area search for this suspect, and, only moments later, located a person fitting the description.

Officer Tivnan observed that this suspect had labored breathing and was sweating profusely. He engaged him in conversation, and, while speaking with him, Tivnan and the suspect were approached by the victim who positively identified the man as the person who was just inside of his home. Once the victim identified the suspect, the man attempted to flee. After a brief struggle with the suspect, Tivnan placed the man under arrest.

Unfortunately, the laptop has yet to be recovered. The suspect is facing multiple charges including resisting arrest, B&E in the night time for a felony, and larceny over $250.00.

Rain is a Policeman's Best Friend

Weekend activity report for 09/05/2008 through 09/07/2008

The first weekend in September is generally a very busy one, as many Amherst citizens can attest, however, this year Mother Nature may have lent us a helping hand.

The remnants of Hurricane Hanna doused the Pioneer Valley on Saturday night and forced most people inside. Multiple roadways throughout town were flooded, and, in some cases, impassable. The Department could have used that assistance on Friday night as a crowd, conservatively estimated at 700 revelers, had to be moved out of the West quad of the Towne House apartments. Most of the weekend activity was reserved to late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Even with the rain on Saturday night, the Amherst Police Department responded to 175 calls for service and 18 people were either placed under arrest or issued a criminal summons. Some of these individulas may face more than one criminal charge. A breakdown of these charges follow:

Assault & Battery: 1
Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon: 1
Breaking and Entering at Nighttime for Felony: 1
Forgery: 1
Larceny Over $250: 1
Larceny Under $250: 1
Operation After Suspension: 2
Operation Under the Influence/Liquor: 1
Person Under 21 Possess Liquor: 4
Protective Custody (non-criminal): 1
Resist Arrest: 1
TBL Open Container of Alcohol: 1
TBL Unlawful Noise: 3
Unlicensed Operation: 1
Uttering: 1
Wanton Destruction of Property Under $250: 1

Welcome Back Students!

Weekend Activity Report for Labor Day Weekend 08/28/2008 through 09/01/2008

Over the long weekend the Amherst Police responded to 255 calls for service and 28 people were either placed under arrest or issued a criminal summons. Some of these individuals face more than one charge.

A break down of the offenses are as follows:

Assault and Battery: 2
Malicious Damage of Property Under $250: 1
Operating Under the Influence: 1
Operating Under the Influence, 2nd Offense: 1
Person Under 21 Possess Liquor: 16
Protective Custody (non-criminal): 1
Resisting Arrest: 2
TBL Open Container of Alcohol: 15
TBL Unlawful Noise: 3
Unlicensed Operation: 2
Uninsured Motor Vehicle: 1

The Calm Before the Storm

Activity Log from August 11, 2008 to August 28, 2008

This is the last activity log before Labor Day Weekend, and the school year is upon us all too quickly. We anticipate that within the next few weeks we shall have a bit of an increase in activity and the nice quiet of summer will have faded into memory.

During the listed time period the Amherst Police responded to 994 calls for service and 41 individuals were either placed under arrest or issued a criminal summons.

A break down of the offenses are:

Armed Assault to Rob: 1
Assault and Battery: 1
Breaking and Entering at Nighttime for Felony: 10
Drug Violation in a School Zone: 1
Improper Use of a Credit Card Over $250: 1
Larceny Over $250: 4
Operation After License Suspension: 3
Operation After License Suspension, Subsequent Offense: 1
Operation After Revocation of Registration: 2
Operating Under the Influence: 4
Operating Under the Influence, 2nd Offense: 1
Person Under 21 Possess Liquor: 1
Possession of a Class B Substance, Subsequent Offense: 1
Possession of a Class B Substance with the Intent to Distribute: 1
Possession of a Class C Substance: 1
Possession of a Class D Substance: 4
Possession of a Class D Substance, Subsequent Offense: 1
TBL Open Container of Alcohol: 1
TBL Unlawful Noise: 1
Trespassing: 1
Violation of a Restraining Order: 1
Wanton Destruction of Property Under $250: 2
Warrant Issued by Another Agency: 4

Dispatchers Take Part in SAFE Program

Educating the public about when and how to call 911 is a priority for the Amherst Police and the Amherst Public Safety Communications Center, and working in partnership with the Amherst Fire Department’s SAFE Program, Emergency Dispatchers will once again have the opportunity this fall to go into the local elementary schools to teach some of our young citizens about dialing 911.

While the Fire Department’s SAFE (Student Awareness of Fire Education) Program has been in place since 1996, with firefighters teaching lessons about fire safety and prevention, having the Dispatchers teach the 911 portion of the curriculum is relatively new.

Last year, Emergency Dispatchers Jason Rushford and Carly Kinnas took part in the SAFE program and taught students in the 4th grade at Fort River, Crocker Farm, Marks Meadow, and Wildwood Elementary schools as well as at the Shutesbury, Leverett, and Pelham Elementary schools about 911 including when it is appropriate to call and what they should say if they do call. Each student then had the opportunity to practice calling 911 using a special phone prop which allowed them to simulate a 911 call and to practice what they had learned.

Working with the SAFE Program is just part of the 911 Education Program that was founded last year by Rushford and Kinnas. The program was designed to educate citizens of all ages about the proper use of 911, and Rushford and Kinnas have presented at other community events as well including the Amherst Fire Department’s Open House, the flu-clinic at the Bangs Community Center, and for seniors with the Amherst SALT Program.

If you would like to see the 911 Education Program present at your community event, contact Carly Kinnas at kinnasc@amherstma.gov or Jason Rushford at rushfordj@amherstma.gov or at the Communications Center at 413-259-3000. This program is funded by a Community Policing Grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.