Community Enhancement Through Community Service

On Saturday, March 30, 2008 a group of UMass students completed their court-ordered community service through the Amherst Police Department's “Community Enhancement Through Community Service” work program. Students spent the afternoon collecting trash and debris from streets adjacent to the UMass campus - which are known as areas of late-night student gathering.

The areas that were cleaned include Lincoln, Sunset, Allen, Phillips and Fearing streets, Nutting Avenue, and part of North Pleasant Street as well. The students were greeted by many local residents who thanked them for their hard work. They collected close to 20 bags of cans, bottles, keg cups and other assorted trash.

If you have a suggestion for a community service project, please contact Detective Brian Johnson at 413-259-3176 or e-mail him at johnsonb@amherstma.gov.

Drug Seizure and Arrests

Investigators from the Amherst Police Department made three arrests for narcotics violations yesterday after warrants were executed at local apartment complexes. The arrests took place at about 8:15 am at 520G Mill Valley Estates and at 76 The Brook. Both apartment complexes are located off of East Hadley Road.

Arrested at 520G Mill Valley were Darius D. Coleman, age 19, of 34 Greenleaves Drive #22, in Hadley, and Stacey Dalmau, age 29, of 520G Mill Valley Estates, in Amherst. Both will be charged with Possession Class D/Intent to Distribute (marijuana), Possession Class B/Intent to Distribute (cocaine), and Drug Violation /School Zone.

Arrested at 76 The Brook was Lamont E. Allen, age 43, of 170 East Hadley Road, #76 (The Brook), in Amherst. Allen will be charged with Possession Class D (marijuana) and Possession Class B (cocaine).

Both warrants follow a lengthy investigation by the Amherst Police Department and the Hampshire County Narcotics Task Force. The investigation is ongoing. All parties are expected to be arraigned today at the Eastern Hampshire District Court.

Junior Operator Law Education Program

On Friday, March 21st, Officers Todd Lang and Doug Geary conducted a Junior Operator License Education Initiative at the entrance of the Amherst Pelham Regional High School. Working in partnership with the RMV's Enforcement Unit, the goal of the initiative was to educate students about the Junior Operator Laws and seat belt usage.

For the first 6 months of licensure in Massachusetts, a person holding a Junior Operator License cannot transport persons under the age of 18 unless the passengers are immediate family members or unless there is a licensed adult over the age of 21, who has had their license for at least 1 year, also in the vehicle. What does this mean? Newly licensed persons cannot drive their friends to school.

Fifty-five vehicles that appeared to be operated by junior operators with passengers were stopped, and 2 were found to be in violation of the junior operator law. Ten people were found to not be wearing their seat belts. As this was an educational initiative, all operators were given a warning. The Amherst Police will be conducting this program again before graduation, during after-school hours, where citation violations will be issued. There is a 60-day license suspension for the first offense of a violation of the junior operator law, and a 180-day license suspension for the second offense.

According to a study conducted by UMass’s Traffic Safety Research Program, “Massachusetts drivers ages 16 to 19 have the highest crash rates per licensed driver, and the risk peaks at age 16. In 2004, the crash rate (per 100,000 licensed drivers) for 16-year-old drivers was more than twice that among 17 to 19-year-olds… Peer influence among teens is a major factor in risky behaviors. Some of this effect is direct; the risk of being involved in a crash is much higher for teen drivers when they are carrying other teens in the vehicle. The presence of teenage passengers has been associated with driver error often caused by distractions and induced risk taking.” To read the entire study, click here.

Road Race April 27th, 2008

On Sunday, April 27th, 2008 the Amherst Police Department and Rafters Sports Bar & Restaurant will be hosting the 15th annual “College Towne Classic 5 Mile Road Race/Walk.” Proceeds from this race go to the Jimmy Fund and the Amherst Police Relief Association. A post-race barbecue and entertainment will be provided. The entry fee is $18; it is $20 if postmarked after April 18th.

Registration and number pick-up is from 9:00-9:45 am in the parking lot of Rafters Sports Bar & Restaurant, located at the corner of University Drive and Amity Street, in Amherst. The walking race begins at 10:00 am, and the running race begins at 10:30 am.

Go to the Amherst Police Department Website to download an application.

Bike Cops Everywhere?

On Tuesday, March 25, twenty mountain bike cops from the Amherst Police Department, UMass Police Department and Hampshire College Department of Public Safety peddled together through the streets of Amherst and the UMass campus. These Officers participated in an eight-hour refresher course designed to sharpen their biking skills for the upcoming cycling season.

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The class was led by Veteran Amherst Police Officer William Laramee. Officer Laramee has received extensive training in bicycle patrol tactics and bicycle safety, and he is a certified International Police Mountain Bike Association instructor. Throughout the day's training, all Officers focused on slow speed drills which included maneuvering through heavy traffic areas. The Officers also practiced multiple patrol and apprehension tactics which are consistently used while on bicycle patrol. All Officers who participated are motivated and excited to serve their communities while on bikes and to promote cycling safety at the same time.

Weekend Activity Log 3/21 - 3/23

Over the past weekend, Amherst Officers responded to 158 calls for service, and 7 individuals were either arrested or will be summonsed into court on criminal charges.

The primary offenses for which these persons are charged include:
Criminal Motor Vehicle Offenses - 2 persons
Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol - 1 person
Assault and Battery, Domestic Violence - 2 persons
Outstanding Warrant - 2 person

Traffic Enforcement

March 24, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
Traffic Enforcement Grant
Road Respect

Chief Charles L. Scherpa is pleased to announce the Amherst Police Department will conduct a traffic enforcement mobilization, titled “Road Respect,” from March 26th through April 16th, 2008. The goal of this campaign is to reduce aggressive and distracted driving through education and enforcement of the traffic laws. Chief Scherpa and the Amherst Police are dedicated to making our roads safer.

Distracted driving is dangerous, and it can lead to aggressive driving. It only takes one second for a driver to become distracted and for a crash to occur. Driving instructors estimate that a driver makes an average of 200 decisions every mile that he or she drives.

Aggressive driving is a growing and dangerous traffic issue. It is a combination of unsafe and unlawful driving actions that demonstrate a conscious and willful disregard for the safety of others. It is a growing source of fatalities and injuries on our roadways. Most crashes involve people who are not obeying traffic and safety laws and who are not using common sense. There is also a small group of people who like the power they feel when driving aggressively.

If you observe or are involved in a serious incident on the road, contact the nearest police agency by dialing 911 - even on a cellular phone. You can also report dangerous drivers to the Registry of Motor Vehicles using a Vehicle Compliant Form. This mobilization is funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau. For more information go to www.mass.gov/ghsb.

Downtown Construction, March 31st

Public Works crews will be excavating the west side of North Pleasant Street (in front of St. Brigid’s Church) to add new storm water drain lines and structures. Construction will take place between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm on Monday, March 31st. North Pleasant Street will remain open to traffic, but the bus stop and parking spaces along this side of the road will be relocated during construction.

For questions or additional information concerning this project, turn to ACTV - the Amherst Community Television channel on your cable system, contact the DPW office at 259-3029, or email the DPW at skeelsj@amherstma.gov.

Weekend Activity Log 3/14 - 3/16

This was the last weekend for "Spring Break" in Amherst. Over the past weekend, Amherst Officers responded to 202 calls for service, and 9 individuals were either arrested or will be summonsed into court on criminal charges.

The primary offenses for which these persons are charged include:

Criminal Motor Vehicle Offenses - 1 person

Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol - 1 person

Possession of Class B Narcotic (Cocaine) - 2 persons

Assault and Battery, Dangerous Weapon - 1 person

Liquor Law Violations - 3 persons

Outstanding Warrant - 1 person

Accreditation Awarded

Amherst Chief of Police Charles L. Scherpa is pleased to announce that on March 6th, 2008, the Amherst Police Department was awarded state accreditation status from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Inc. This award was made possible by the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of the men and women of the Amherst Police Department.

The Department was first accredited in 2001, and it was the second police department in Massachusetts to obtain the award. Achieving accreditation from the Commission is the highest award given, and it is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community. Participating in the program and achieving accreditation status allows departments to demonstrate that they are among the finest in the state. The status of accreditation is granted for a period of three years.

Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which law enforcement departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession - by the profession. These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations, and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, and prisoner transportation. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession within the Commonwealth, but also for the delivery of police services to the community.

The Amherst Police Department underwent a three-day assessment in October 2007 by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The assessment team found the department to be in compliance with all 103 mandatory standards and all necessary optional standards.

Questions regarding the accreditation process can be forwarded to the Department’s accreditation manager, Lt. Jennifer Gundersen, at gundersenj@amherstma.gov.

Weekend Activity Log 3/7 - 3/9

Over the past weekend, Amherst Officers responded to 247 calls for service, and 11 individuals were either arrested or will be summonsed into court on criminal charges.

The primary offenses for which these persons are charged include:
Criminal Motor Vehicle Offenses - 1 person
Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol - 1 person
Possession of Class D Narcotic (Marijuana) - 1 person
Violation of the Noise By-Law - 4 persons
Assault and Battery, Dangerous Weapon - 1 person
Liquor Law Violations - 2 persons
Outstanding Warrant - 1 person

Do You Need Cheap Labor?

In the spring of 2007, the Amherst Police Department initiated the Community Enhancement Through Community Service Program. The basic premise behind the program is to have individuals who have committed minor offenses in Amherst, for example open container violations, noise violations, etc., complete court-ordered community service here in town. Through this program, people have completed a variety of community-based projects including a clean-up of the Jessie’s House Playground - see above photo, work on the Amherst Police Department's Adventure-Based Ropes Course, and other various clean-up jobs around the town.

Suggestions for work projects are currently being solicited by the Department to be completed in the spring of 2008. If you have a project idea, or if you are a non-profit organization in Amherst that could benefit from this program, please contact Detective Brian Johnson at 413-259-3176 or e-mail him at johnsonb@amherstma.gov. Tentative dates for the program are 03/29/08, 4/4/08, 4/26/08, and 4/27/08.

Weekend Activity

Over the past weekend, Amherst Officers responded to 266 calls for service, and 14 individuals were either arrested or will be summonsed into court on criminal charges.

The primary offenses for which these persons are charged include:
Criminal Motor Vehicle Offenses - 3 persons
Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol - 2 persons
Possession of Class D Narcotic (marijuana) - 1 person
Violation of the Noise By-law - 2 persons
Assault and Battery, Dangerous Weapon - 1 person
Assault and Battery - 1 person
Liquor Law Violations - 4 persons