Winter Parking Ban

From December 1, 2010, to April 1, 2011, no overnight parking is allowed on any town street 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.

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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.

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For further information, contact the Amherst Police Department at 413-259-3000.

S.T.O.P. Initiative

The Amherst Police Department is reminding all college students to protect their local residences during the fall and winter breaks. Traditionally, during this time period the volume of burglaries rises considerably. Knowing that students often leave their belongings behind, thieves will commonly target areas with high student populations. In the majority of these thefts, entry is made through unlocked doors and windows. By following a few simple steps prior to leaving for break you can deter a thief from targeting your home. The Amherst Police Department has adopted the S.T.O.P. initiative to help spread awareness of these simple steps.

S - Secure all doors and windows. A quick check of your residence before departing is possibly the best way to protect your belongings during fall and winter breaks.

T - Take your valuables with you. Highly valuable items such as laptops, jewelry, iPods, and game systems should be taken with you if possible.

O - Out of sight. Invest in window coverings and make sure they are utilized. Keep all of your valuables out of sight. Valuable items in plain view can attract the attention of a thief and make you a target.

P - Patrols. The Amherst Police Department will be utilizing directed patrols in an effort to deter/apprehend any offenders during the breaks. These directed patrols will include plain clothes officers on foot in and around areas of student housing. We also welcome you to report any and all suspicious activity. If it doesn't look right, it probably isn't.

In an effort to educate the community about this program, the Amherst Police Department is distributing door holders at apartment complexes and homes throughout town.

The Amherst Police Department welcomes you to visit our website at www.amherstpd.org for additional tips on how to protect yourself from crime.

Online Reporting of Bullying

Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone is pleased to announce the development and utilization of new software that will help address bullying in Amherst schools. On May 3, 2010, a Massachusetts law was enacted prohibiting bullying in Massachusetts schools. In part, the new law instructs school administrative staff to report instances of bullying to the local police department within that school’s jurisdiction.

To assist the Amherst School District with this mandate, the Amherst Police Department contacted their online incident reporting vendor, Coplogic, Inc., based out of San Ramon, California, to develop software that would allow for the reporting online. The Amherst Police Department has accepted online crime reporting since 2008 and was the first police department in Massachusetts to do so. Coplogic, with input from the Amherst Police Department and Amherst School District, has developed an innovative software program that will allow school administrators to notify the Amherst Police of bullying incidents and to exchange relevant information online in a secure, efficient and confidential manner. The bullying reports would be uploaded into the records management system at the Police Department and routed directly to Detective David Foster, who specializes in juvenile issues. An officer or detective would not respond to the school unless specifically requested to do so by the school administrator. Online reporting is a more efficient use of the police department's limited resources, as adherence to the law could result in several responses per week. However, incidents that are determined to be in violation of Massachusetts General Law, such as harassment or assault and battery, will be investigated fully. This anti-bullying software is the first of its kind in Massachusetts.

“Coplogic, Inc. is staffed by active and former law enforcement officials, making them very receptive to new ideas and better able to provide solutions for the unique needs of our agency and other agencies across the state,” said Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone. “It is extremely rare to find a company that is as responsive as Coplogic, Inc. Within days of our request for a user friendly, confidential, and secure way to receive information from school administrators, Coplogic had a solution ready. Without Coplogic, Inc.'s support, it would have been a much more difficult and time consuming process to file and investigate these reports. Coplogic's system will save time for school administrators and enable our department to quickly move forward with any investigations related to the bullying reports.” Coplogic, Inc. has told the Amherst Police Department that all police agencies already using the Coplogic, Inc. software in Massachusetts would also be able to utilize the anti bullying software feature free of charge.

For additional information regarding this program, please contact Amherst Detective David Foster at 413-259-3015 or Andrew B. Cartwright from Coplogic, Inc. at 800-734-9293, extension 705.

Neighborhood Cleanup is Success

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, Officer Bill Laramee, along with brothers representing the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, did another cleanup of the Phillips Street neighborhood. The group was led by their president, Raz Davidyan.

This cleanup is part of an ongoing effort to improve the curb appeal of the neighborhood and to further involve students in the effort to be productive members of the neighborhoods they live in. As the group was returning to the Amherst Police Department, e-mails were already being received from neighbors about the efforts of the students. Good job all!

S.T.O.P. Door Hangers Delivered

On November 13, 2010, from 8 am to 12 pm, UMass students and Amherst Police Officers continued their efforts as part of the Community Enrichment Program.

On this day, approximately 1,000 S.T.O.P. door hangers were left at residences throughout North Amherst. The hangers offer reminders to people of the importance of securing their property and taking items of value with them when they are gone for extended periods of time. For more information about the Community Enrichment Program, you may contact Detective David Foster.

Flyers Donated

On November, 11, 2010, Ray Shafie, the owner of Copy Cat Print Shop and a long-time resident of Amherst, generously donated 1,500 S.T.O.P. flyers in an effort to remind residents to secure their homes and protect their belongings. Historically, the Town of Amherst has been victimized by criminals seeking easy targets which are the result of carelessness or oversight by homeowners.

The flyers will be distributed by apartment management companies, church groups, and persons participating in the Amherst Police Department's community service program over the next few weeks.

Apartments Evacuated

On November 9, 2010, at approximately 9:04 am, Officers from the Amherst Police Department responded to Rolling Green Apartments, located at 422 Belchertown Road, where they located a deceased male, 21 years of age, in a motor vehicle parked in a lot there.

Observations made by the Officers at the scene made them aware that potentially hazardous materials were present in the car. The Amherst Fire Department responded to the scene and mobilized the regional hazardous materials team to contend with that issue.

The deceased male is not being identified pending the notification of kin. He was enrolled as a student at the University of Massachusetts.

Investigators do not believe that this death is suspicious.

This joint investigation continues in cooperation with the Northwestern District Attorney's Office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

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 children. 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 date is Saturday, November 20, 2010, by appointment only. Open to Amherst residents 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 at (413) 259-3000.

A Day Out With the Amherst Police Department

Police Officers from the Amherst Police Department will be accompanying ten third-grade students from Fort River Elementary School to the performance of Laura Ingalls Wilder, presented by the Arts Power National Touring Theatre, at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. The outing is part of the Amherst Police Department's ongoing efforts to strengthen our relationship with the youth of Amherst in a social and entertaining setting. This program is designed to promote positive interaction between Amherst Police Officers, the youth of Amherst, and the University. The goal of this initiative is for Officers and students to develop a relationship while attending cultural events taking place at the University. Tickets were donated by the University of Massachusetts Office of External Relations and Fine Arts Center.

For additional information please contact Sergeant Jesus Arocho at 413-259-3000 or via email.

Community Enrichment Program

On October 23, 2010, Officer Humber and Officer Clock participated in a Community Enrichment Program with individuals charged with various minor offenses in the Town of Amherst.
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Officers Humber and Clock, along with their team of workers, were picking up trash on Fearing Street, Nutting Avenue, Phillips Street, Sunset Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, College Street, Hobart Lane, and at Puffton Village. On this day, twelve people participated in the project.
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On October 30, 2010, Officer Humber and Officer Forcum again coordinated the same project, and this time five people participated. The streets between Main Street and College Street were the area of concentration.
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The Community Enrichment Program assists organizations with minor projects by providing free labor. The program is a tool to allow offenders who are required to serve court-ordered community service hours by the Eastern Hampshire District Court to complete that service here in Amherst.
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Detective David Foster coordinates this successful program, and he is looking for suggestions for how this group can help the Amherst community. Detective Foster, who schedules these programs, can be reached via email or by calling the Amherst Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-259-3166.