Amherst Police Department Launch an Intensive Crackdown on Impaired Driving

The Amherst Police Department will be conducting an Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative during the month of September according to Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone.  At select dates and times officers will be aggressively targeting impaired drivers.

Impaired driving is one of America’s most often committed and deadliest crimes. In 2010, 115 people died in impaired driving related crashes in the Commonwealth.  Moreover, there were an additional 2,750 impaired driving related personal injury and property damage crashes and almost 14,635 impaired driving arrests. 

 

In 2011 the Amherst Police arrested 144 people for impaired driving.  This included operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.  So far in 2012, 87 people have been arrested for driving while impaired.

 “All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to highway safety, we are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown.  Since twice as many alcohol-impaired crashes occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on the road,” said Chief Livingstone.

 Amherst Police Officers will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

 "Our message is simple and unwavering: if we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Chief Livingstone.  “Designate a sober driver, take the bus, or call a cab.  Don’t get behind the wheel and drive.”

 According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. All told, a first offense can easily cost well over $5000.  Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences.   Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

 

For more information contact Sergeant Todd Lang via email or call (413) 259-3000.

Amherst Police Receives Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge Award

The Amherst Police Department has received an Award of Excellence for Municipal Departments for participating in the annual Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge (MLEC). 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 Amherst Police Department was recognized along with the Massachusetts State Police and 22 other municipal police agencies across the state at a ceremony held on August 24, 2012, in Devens, MA. This is the fifth year the department has been recognized by EOPSS for its traffic safety efforts, having received an MLEC Award of Excellence in the Gold Category in 2011 based on its 2010 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 in six separate categories: Policy and Guidelines, Officer Training, Incentives and Recognition, Public Education and Information, Enforcement Activity and Effectiveness of Effort, based on its 2011 data and accomplishments. 

 

In 2011, Amherst Police Officers arrested 142 individuals for Operating under the Influence, issued 696 citations for speeding, 124 seatbelt violations, two of which involved child safety seat violations. In the same year, the department investigated 875 motor vehicle crashes, 118 of which resulted in personal injury. In 2011, the department investigated one fatal motor vehicle collision.

 

For more information about this award or the department’s educational or enforcement efforts please contact Lt. William Menard at (413) 259-3167 or via email or Officer Scott Gallagher at (413) 259-3000 or via email.

Join us for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, 8/11/12

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is part of a worldwide program to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics.  The Torch Run is not a race; it is a torch relay in which law enforcement officials carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to opening ceremonies of Special Olympics Massachusetts tournaments.

The purpose of the LETR is to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Massachusetts and to grow the partnership between law enforcement and Special Olympics athletes.
Special Olympics athletes are honored to have any member of a local, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency participate. Friends and family are also welcome to run but only members of law enforcement may carry the torch. The run will include cruisers, motorcycles, and support vehicles.

When:

-Saturday, August 11^th 2012– Please park at the UMASS campus, Lot 22 (located on University Dr.
-Take shuttle to Amherst PD (5:50PM – 6:50PM)
-Registration opens at Amherst PD at 6:00 PM
-3 mile run starts at 7:10 PM and will arrive at approximately 7:50
-The Torch will enter the Athlete Village at 8:00PM
-Participants are encouraged to contribute at least $15, and each will receive an event t-shirt.

Where:

All Torch Runners will escort the Flame of Hope into the Saturday night dance – a Special Olympics weekend event staple!  Together, law enforcement will light the cauldron in celebration of the weekend-long August Tournament, which features softball, fishing, golf, cycling, and bocce. Volunteers welcome!

Contact:

John Evon, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department
413.858.0551 or john.evon@sdh.state.ma.us
Bob O’Connor, Amherst Police Department413.259.3208 or O’ConnorR@amherstma.gov