$1,000 Grant Awarded to the Amherst Police

Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone is pleased to announce that the Amherst Police Department has been awarded a $1,000 grant by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) Office of Grants and Research. The funding was awarded as part of EOPSS Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program. The program, understanding that law enforcement has a critical role in addressing both domestic violence and sexual assault, provides funding for two veteran police officers to attend a 3-day advanced training institute on sexual and domestic violence. The goal of the training program is to strengthen that critical role by creating a uniform and victim-centered law enforcement response that partners with appropriate community agencies to ensure victim safety and to also hold the offenders accountable.

Questions regarding this grant can be forwarded to Sergeant Jesus Arocho at 413-259-3000 or via email.

Search Warrant Yields Drugs

On October 26, 2010, at approximately 2:10 am, Officers from the Amherst Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police executed a search warrant at 314 North Pleasant St. The warrant execution follows a joint investigation by both departments. Seized at the time of the search was a large amount of psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana that had been packaged for sale. Officers also recovered several thousand dollars and other indices of distribution.

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Arrested at the scene was:
Steven Samson, age 21
14 Salerno Rd.
Enfield, Connecticut

Charges:

1. Possession of Class C Substance (psilocybin) with Intent to Distribute
2. Possession Class D Substance (marijuana) with Intent to Distribute
3. Drug Violation in a School Zone

Samson is a student at the University of Massachusetts. He was held at the Hampshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. He is expected to be arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning.

This investigation is ongoing.

An arrest has been made in relation to the serious assault reported to the Amherst Police Department on September 12, 2010. On that date, shortly after midnight, several Officers responded to the area of 213 Grantwood Dr. for the report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, Officers located an unresponsive man who had been struck in the head with a baseball bat. That male was found to be a 17-year-old high school student from Worcester. He was subsequently hospitalized and was just recently released.

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The investigation has identified the assailant as Erik Reyes. He was arrested October 22, 2010, at approximately 4:35 pm. Reyes was arrested with the assistance of the Medford Police Department at a CVS Pharmacy on Fells Parkway in that city. Reyes is not an area student.
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Erik B. Reyes, age 20
40 Gibson St.
Medford, MA
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Charge: Assault & Battery/Dangerous Weapon

Reyes was held at the Hampshire County House of Correction in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. He is expected to be arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Dispatchers Teach 4th Graders About 911

Emergency Dispatchers from the Amherst Public Safety Communications Center are once again working in partnership with the Amherst Fire Department and taking part in AFD's SAFE Program. Together they are helping to teach some of Amherst’s youngest citizens about dialing 911.

The SAFE (Student Awareness of Fire Education) Program has been in place since 1996, with firefighters from the Amherst Fire Department teaching lessons about fire safety and prevention to the 4th graders at Fort River, Crocker Farm and Wildwood Elementary schools as well as at the Shutesbury, Leverett, and Pelham elementary schools.

The month-long SAFE Program culminates with the 911 lesson, which includes information for students about how to appropriately use 911 including what to say if they do have to report an emergency, and each student will have an opportunity to practice dialing 911 using a special phone prop which allows the Dispatchers and the students to simulate a 911 call so they can apply what they’ve learned.

Working with the SAFE Program is just part of the 911 Education Program that was founded in 2007 by Dispatchers Jason Rushford and Carly 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 (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Program.

If you would like more information about the SAFE Program or the 911 Education Program, 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.

Communications Center Receives $89,139 in Grant Funding

The Amherst Public Safety Communications Center has received two grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety, E-911 Department.

The Communications Center received a $12,513 grant under the 2011 State 911 Department Training Grant Program which will provide reimbursement for emergency dispatchers to attend trainings associated with the delivery of 911 services to the Amherst community. In addition, the Center received a $76,626 grant under the 2011 State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant Program. This funding will be utilized for technology expenditures and to pay the salary and benefits of one emergency dispatcher - a position that was left unfunded in the FY2011 annual budget. These grant programs, provided by the State E-911 Department, are funded by 911 surcharges on telephone lines.

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“The Communications Center is staffed by 12 dedicated professionals who are committed to the safety of our community. They are a vital part of both the police and fire departments, and they give 100% each and every shift. We are very fortunate that with this funding Communications Center personnel can advance their training and enhance the service that they provide the Town of Amherst,” said Chief Livingstone.

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For additional information regarding these grant programs, please contact Captain Jennifer Gundersen at 413-259-3012 or via email.

$173,643 Department of Justice Grant Awarded to the Amherst Police Department

The Town of Amherst Police Department has received a $173,643 award from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. This federal grant was obtained in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Police Department and the University of Massachusetts Everywoman’s Center (EWC). The funding will be utilized to hire a full-time civilian advocate to be available on-site to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence at the Amherst and University of Massachusetts Police Departments. The civilian advocate will be an employee of the EWC and will be contracted to both departments.

In 2009, the Amherst Police Department responded to 164 domestic disturbance calls and investigated 27 sexual assaults. In 2009, the University of Massachusetts Police Department responded to 27 domestic disturbance calls and investigated 13 sexual assaults. The EWC Rape Crisis hotline received 1,032 hotline calls in FY 2010 and provided crisis intervention for 257 new clients. To improve the investigation of crimes of sexual and domestic violence, and to provide better support to the survivors, the grant will also fund the following:

* training for bilingual police officers from both departments in specialized courses on sexual assault investigation;

* training for all police officers from both police departments in investigations of domestic and sexual violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community members;

* training for all police officers from both police departments in investigations of domestic and sexual violence against survivors with disabilities;

* a “Language Interpretation Line” which will be used by police officers, dispatchers from both departments, as well as EWC staff to effectively communicate with persons whose first language is not English;

* supplies, including cameras and audio recorders, to improve the investigation of domestic and sexual violence offenses.

Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone made the following statement, “This funding will be put to very good use. Having an advocate that has an office within our police departments, who can immediately begin to work with survivors for support and resources, is instrumental in these cases. We have seen that not only will survivors get the resources that they need in a timely fashion, but they are more likely to allow us to follow through with court prosecution, thus ending the cycle of violence.”

For more information regarding these initiatives, please contact Amherst Police Captain Jennifer Gundersen at (413) 259-3012 or via email, UMass Police Deputy Chief Patrick Archbald at (413) 545-2121 or via email, or Everywoman’s Center Associate Director Rebecca Lockwood at (413) 545-5832 or via email.

Child Passenger Car Seat Installations

The Amherst Police Department is committed to the safety of our children. Motor vehicle crashes pose a tremendous risk for them. When properly installed, child safety seats reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Safety belts reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a motor vehicle crash by up to 50%. This is where the Amherst Police Department can help.

The Amherst Police Department conducts Child Passenger Car Seat Inspections on the 3rd Saturday of each month. The next scheduled inspection day is Saturday, October 16, 2010, by appointment only. Our certified technicians will thoroughly inspect child passenger car seats for wear and effectiveness and install them properly to assure the safest ride for our children. To schedule a 30-minute appointment either e-mail the Amherst Police Department or call (413) 259-3355. This program is open to Amherst residents only.

The Amherst Police Department has received funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division for the equipment necessary to complete the inspections and installations. Questions regarding this program can be forwarded to Officer Felipe Feliciano or call (413) 259-3000.

REMINDER: Community Shred Event! 10/16/10

PUT A DENT IN IDENTITY THEFT
FREE COMMUNITY SHRED EVENT

The Amherst TRIAD/ “Seniors and Law Enforcement Together” (SALT) Council, in partnership with the Amherst Police Department, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Hampshire Sheriff’s Office, Pro-Shred, Inc. and Peoples Savings Bank are sponsoring a “Community Shred Event” to be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, at Peoples Savings Bank, 56 Amity St., Amherst, in the parking lot of the bank. This three-hour event will be open to all Hampshire County community members. This is for residential shredding and not open to businesses.

The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the event which will be collected and donated to the Amherst Survival Center.

Consumer fraud and identity thefts are on the rise. Older adults are often targeted victims of identity theft, which is why the Amherst S.A.L.T. Council wants to raise awareness and to promote prevention. We hope that the “Community Shred Event” will provide the community with a responsible way to dispose of sensitive documents. You are welcome to bring as many boxes of documents as you would like. Documents such as old bills, credit card information, cancelled checks or any materials that may have your identifying information can be shredded. All documents will be shredded on site.

PROSHRED® Inc., of Wilbraham, is donating their services. They are a document destruction company solely dedicated to on-site paper shredding: the most secure, convenient and cost-effective method for destroying and recycling confidential documents and materials.

Please join us in putting a dent in identify theft! For further information you can call Chris Geffin at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, 413-586-9225, or Capt. Jennifer Gundersen at the Amherst Police Department, 413-259-3012.

Attention North Amherst Residents: Don't Be the Next Victim

In light of the increased number of house breaks in your neighborhoods, as well as increased issues concerning students and neighborhood conflicts, the Amherst Police Department invites you to a community gathering to be held on Wednesday, October 20th, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Please join us and learn how to protect your property, talk about ways to deal with student and neighborhood issues, and hear about on-going initiatives to improve the quality of life for all residents!

WHAT: Community Gathering
WHEN: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

TIME: 7 pm - 9 pm
LOCATION: Immanuel Lutheran Church - 867 North Pleasant St.
TOPICS: Crime Prevention, Student/Neighborhood Issues, Community Outreach Initiatives

Neighborhood Clean-Up is Successful

On September 26, 2010, members of the Amherst Police Department and the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity participated in a neighborhood clean-up in and around the Phillips Street neighborhood.

This clean-up was part of the continuing effort to improve the image of this long-neglected area. In total, four truckloads of trash and debris were transported to the Town of Amherst landfill.

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Thank you to the Town of Amherst and the brothers of Alpha Delta Phi for their continued efforts!

Put a Dent in Identity Theft: Free Shred Event

The Amherst TRIAD/ “Seniors and Law Enforcement Together” (SALT) Council, in partnership with the Amherst Police Department, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Hampshire Sheriff’s Office, Pro-Shred Inc. and Peoples Savings Bank are sponsoring a “Community Shred Event” to be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, at Peoples Savings Bank, 56 Amity St., Amherst, in the parking lot. This three-hour event will be open to all Hampshire County community members. This is for residential shredding and not open to businesses.

The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the event which will be collected on site and donated to the Amherst Survival Center.

Consumer fraud and identity thefts are on the rise. Older adults are often targeted victims of identity theft, which is why the Amherst SALT Council wants to raise awareness and to promote prevention. We hope that the “Community Shred Event” will provide the community with a responsible way to dispose of sensitive documents. You are welcome to bring as many boxes of documents as you would like. Documents such as old bills, credit card information, cancelled checks or any materials that may have your identifying information can be shredded. All documents will be shredded on site.

Pro-Shred Inc., of Wilbraham, is donating their services. They are a document destruction company solely dedicated to on-site paper shredding: the most secure, convenient and cost-effective method for destroying and recycling confidential documents and materials.

Please join us in putting a dent in identify theft! For further information you can call Chris Geffin at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, 413-586-9225, or Capt. Jennifer Gundersen at the Amherst Police Department, 413-259-3012.

Man Arrested After Throwing Rock at Officer

Last weekend showed heavy call volume for the Amherst Police Department. Officers responded to a total of 204 calls for service which included 36 disturbance or fight calls. Officers charged 33 people, through arrest or summons, with various crimes ranging from alcohol violations, disorderly conduct, and assault.

On September 25th, at approximately midnight, several officers were called to the area of Hobart Lane for a group of approximately 750 people that had gathered there. As officers began dispersing the crowd, they were pelted with rocks, bottles and cans. One officer was struck with a rock, and the perpetrator who threw the rock was captured and arrested.

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He is:
Jack Eckart, age 20
27 Gay Ave.
Walpole, MA

Charges:

Assault & Battery/Dangerous Weapon (rock), Failure to Disperse, Assault & Battery on a Police Officer.

Eckart is a UMass student. He was arraigned last week in the Eastern Hampshire District Court. The officer was treated for a contusion to his legs but did not require hospitalization.

Would You Like To Know?

The Amherst Police Department would like to remind citizens that information about criminal activity and police responses in your neighborhood are accessible twenty-four hours a day via the Amherst Police Department website, http://www.amherstpd.org/. Concerned or interested people have access to timely information about what is happening around town by clicking on the link to CrimeReports, located at http://www.crimereports.com/.
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Citizens can use the same information that investigators have access to regarding recent occurrences. If you are interested in receiving notification of incidents in your neighborhood, you can get them in real time via email alert on the wireless device of your choice. This application is free and can be accessed from the CrimeReports home page.

For additional information, contact Sergeant Brian T. Johnson at 413-259-3278 or via email .