Amherst Police Department Receives MLEC Award

The Amherst Police Department has received an Award of Excellence in the Silver Category for municipal departments for participating in the annual Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge. The Challenge is a joint initiative supported by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).

The department will be recognized along with the Massachusetts State Police and 16 other police agencies across the state at a ceremony held November 17, 2009, in Worcester, MA. This is the second year the department has been recognized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for its traffic safety efforts having received the same award in 2008 based on 2007 data and accomplishments.

The award program recognizes police departments across the state for their traffic safety efforts to reduce motor vehicle-related fatalities, injuries and economic loss in communities by combining traffic enforcement with public information and education. The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge (MLEC) is modeled after the National Law Enforcement Challenge presented annually by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

The Amherst Police Department was judged on six separate categories: Policy and Guidelines, Officer Training, Incentives and Recognition, Public Education and Information, Enforcement Activity and Effectiveness of Effort. The award is based on the department’s 2008 data and accomplishments.

In 2008, the Amherst Police Department cited a total of 3,411 drivers for speeding and arrested 123 individuals for operating under the influence. In the same year, the department investigated 796 motor vehicle crashes - 108 of which resulted in personal injury. Of the personal injury crashes, less than 13% were speed-related and less than 11% were alcohol-related. In 2008, the department did not investigate one fatal motor vehicle collision which can be attributed to our officers’ proactive enforcement efforts.

In 2007, the department investigated 1,016 motor vehicle crashes and 796 in 2008. The decrease in motor vehicle collisions over the last year is a direct result of the commitment the Amherst Police Department has in the education and enforcement of all traffic-related laws.

For more information about this award or the department’s educational or enforcement efforts please contact Sgt. William Menard or Officer Scott Gallagher at (413) 259-3000.