Guess Who Visits the Shift on Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Eve, the real Kris Kringle stopped by APD on his way through Amherst. Officer Mike Forcum and Officer Noah Clock were fortunate enough to have their picture taken with him.

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The Amherst Police Department wishes you a happy holiday season!

Drunk Driving - Over the Limit - Under Arrest Mobilization

The Amherst Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across the state in the Drunk Driving - Over the Limit - Under Arrest Mobilization from December 11, 2009, through January 3, 2010.

This mobilization combines extra state and local traffic enforcement with public information to reduce impaired driving and other traffic offenses. The mobilization is coordinated and funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau, a division of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

The Amherst Police Department recommends that when you host a party over the holiday season where alcohol will be served that you also offer non-alcoholic beverages and food to prevent drinking from becoming the focus of your gathering. If you are heading out to an event and plan to consume alcohol, be sure to designate a sober driver or plan to utilize a taxi or mass transit.

Impaired driving is a serious crime that could cost you your freedom, job, vehicle, license, and result in death or injury to yourself or other innocent people. More than 14,000 people are arrested annually for drunk driving in Massachusetts. A first time Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction can cost almost $8,000.00 in addition to insurance surcharge expenses.

According to Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone, “The safety of our community is our number one priority, and to accomplish this we are aggressively enforcing the drunk driving laws. This year alone, we have criminally charged 139 persons with Driving Under the Influence which proves our commitment to this enforcement effort. Please use designated drivers during the holiday season.”

Questions regarding this enforcement initiative can be forwarded to Sergeant Bill Menard or Patrolman Todd Lang. For more information about the Highway Safety Division of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, go to www.mass.gov/highwaysafety.

Patrolman Walter J. Wysocki, 1925-2009

Patrolman Walter J. Wysocki, who lived in Amherst his entire life, died last week at the age of 84. Patrolman Wysocki, “Walt,” was an Amherst Police Officer for 23 years, and he retired in 1985 with the distinguished Badge #1. Patrolman Wysocki was born in the Wysocki House on North Pleasant Street, which is now part of the UMass campus and houses their Family Housing Office. He originally had a small farm and equipment repair shop on Belchertown Road, and, in 1964, shortly after joining the Amherst Police, he built his dream home on Henry Street. Until very recently, when his failing health prohibited him from doing so, Patrolman Wysocki could be seen working in his fields and selling its yield on the side of the road on Henry Street.

Amherst Chief of Police Donald N. Maia (retired, 2000) said this about Walt Wysocki, “Walt was a very handy guy and worked hard for the Amherst Police Department. Frank Hart (retired Chief, 1973) had a knack for hiring people for certain reasons. Frank was a farmer, Walt was a farmer, and Walt could repair anything. Hart valued Walt’s talent to fix anything, so he gave him a job as a police officer. That’s just how it was done back then.”

Thank you, Walter Wysocki, for being a dedicated and committed member of the Amherst Police Department and the entire Amherst community.

Six Charged After Large Scale Disturbance

On September 18, 2009, at approximately 1:05 am, several officers from the Amherst Police Department responded to 213 Sunset Ave. for the report of a large scale disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located a victim who had been severely beaten. The victim was identified as a 20-year-old University of Massachusetts student. He had suffered major facial and head trauma that was not life-threatening but required surgery. It was also discovered that several other people had been assaulted during the melee that involved more than ten people. Fortunately, these other victims had superficial injuries that did not require hospitalization. The disturbance followed an argument that stemmed from some property that was damaged at the Sunset Avenue apartment.

The assailants in this case have been identified following a lengthy investigation by Detective Gabriel Ting of the Amherst Police Department. They will be summoned to the Eastern Hampshire District Court for the following charges:

A Stoneham, MA, man - Age 19 (University of Rhode Island student):
Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 (window)
Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon, 2 counts (lamp, shod foot)
Assault & Battery, Serious Bodily Injury
Assault & Battery
Wanton Destruction of Property under $250 (bathroom mirror)

An Everett, MA, man - Age 19 (University of Rhode Island student):
Assault & Battery

A Quincy, MA, man - Age 19 (University of Rhode Island student):
Assault & Battery

A Revere, MA, man - Age 18 (University of Rhode Island student):
Assault & Battery

A Malden, MA, man - Age 19 (University of Massachusetts student):
Assault & Battery

An Everett, MA, man - Age 19 (University of Massachusetts student):
Assault & Battery (3 counts)

OUI Accident

On December 9, 2009, at 1:15 am, Amherst Police Officers responded to 846 East Pleasant St. for the report of a vehicle that had left the roadway and struck the house there. The operator of the vehicle was found to be Johanna Favaro. She sustained minor injuries and was transported by the Amherst Fire Department ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for evaluation. The house suffered structural damage.
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The investigation revealed that Favaro’s vehicle was travelling west on Grantwood Drive where she failed to stop for the stop sign. She crossed the intersecting East Pleasant Street and struck the house.
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Following her treatment, Favaro was held at the Hampshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $500 cash bail. She is expected to be arraigned on December 10, 2009, in the Eastern Hampshire District Court.
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Johanna Favaro, Age 26
84 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA
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Charges:
OUI/Alcohol, 2nd Offense
Failure to Stop/Stop Sign
Marked Lanes Violation
Wanton Destruction of Property over $250 (house damage)
Reckless Operation
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The matter remains under investigation.

Winter Parking Ban

Amherst Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone has announced that the overnight parking ban is now in effect. From December 1, 2009, to April 1, 2010, no overnight parking is allowed on any town streets from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Vehicles left on streets between these hours are subject to be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Parking is allowed in the meter lot on Pray Street and also on the lower level of the parking garage. Vehicles must be moved by 7:00 a.m.

Amherst Police Department policy is as follows:
-First offense results in a warning.
-Second offense results in a ticket.
-Third offense results in a ticket and towing of the vehicle regardless of the weather conditions.

Should a snowstorm require plowing, the warning provisions listed above are not in effect. Vehicles will be towed to assist the Department of Public Works in the removal of snow.

For further information, contact Captain Michael Kent at (413) 259-3000.

APD Citizen's Police Academy

The Amherst Police Department is resuming its Citizen's Police Academy!

The Citizen's Police Academy is a six-week program designed to introduce Amherst residents, seventeen years of age or older, to the internal workings of the Amherst Police Department in addition to the duties and responsibilities of individual officers. Classroom sessions will encompass a wide range of interesting topics including defensive tactics, less than lethal options, crime scene search, building search, field sobriety testing and the history of the Amherst Police Department.

Citizens will be encouraged to actively participate in a variety of creative and hands-on classes conducted in a controlled environment that will foster a safe, fun and educational learning experience. There will also be demonstrations by several specialized units operating within the Amherst Police Department. The citizen's academy culminates with participants having the opportunity to ride with a patrol officer who is assigned to the district in which they live.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays, beginning January 12, 2010 and running until February 16, 2010, in the Amherst Police Department Community Room from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Enrollment will be limited to the first 20 applicants, so please do not delay!

The application deadline is Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Applications may be picked up in person at the Amherst Police Department or downloaded off our website at http://www.amherstpd.org/. Also, check out our Online Application. Applications must be completed and returned to:

Amherst Police Department
Attn. Sgt. David Knightly
111 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002

Questions regarding the Citizen's Police Academy may be forwarded to Sgt. David Knightly at 413-259-3000 or by email. Grant funding will be utilized to offset the cost of this program.

The Amherst Police Department wants to remind you of the high number of breaking and entering incidents which typically occur during the winter break.

DON'T BE A VICTIM!

With several simple preventative measures, you can reduce the risk of becoming a target of thieves. Follow these simple steps before departing on your break and make them a habit.

S: Secure all doors and windows. The majority of B&E's are committed without the use of force. Thieves will typically target apartments with unsecured doors/windows.

T: Take your valuable belongings with you i.e. laptops, iPods, etc.

O: Out of sight. Be sure to close all of your shades and place any valuables you leave behind in an inconspicuous place.

P: Patrols. The Amherst Police Department will be actively patrolling target areas throughout the break utilizing different techniques in an attempt to deter and apprehend offenders.

For more information contact Officer Michael Forcum or Officer Hunter Guiles at 413-259-3000.