EPD Receives National Traffic Safety Award
On October 25, 2011, The Evanston Police Department's Traffic Management Bureau received national recognition for their traffic safety and enforcement initiatives. This recognition was received from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The award was received in conjunction with the association’s annual conference. Evanston’s first place finish in the Law Enforcement Challenge earned them a new police equipped 2012 Ford Expedition EL.
The IACP and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration believe that an increase in traffic enforcement and education in a community results in a decrease in motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. One of the best ways to promote, build, and increase participation in the national program is to establish state challenge programs. Earlier this year, the Evanston Police Traffic Management Bureau was also recognized as a first place winner by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in the State of Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge. With the State of Illinois recognition, the Evanston Police application was then entered into the national challenge.
The national competition is a friendly competition between similar sizes and types of Law Enforcement agencies, and is a unique way for the agencies to increase their attention to traffic safety. The competition encourages Law Enforcement agencies to undertake a comprehensive review of traffic enforcement initiatives, with the goal being to increase traffic safety in their respective communities. Evanston was entered and judged against other Law Enforcement agency programs from across the nation. This recognition rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in the United States and Evanston won in its award category of municipalities with 101-200 sworn officers out of a field of 38 applicants.
Adding to this national first place recognition on October 25, 2011, the Evanston Police Department Traffic Enforcement Bureau attended an award and recognition presentation, hosted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Due to Evanston’s first place finish in the Law Enforcement Challenge, they were eligible to win a Police equipped 2012 Ford Expedition EL.
As the event progressed ten keys were randomly distributed to all ten nationwide winners, the Evanston Police Department was issued key #10. Each department was given the opportunity to see if their key started the Ford Expedition. Luck then smiled on E.P.D. when key number #10 started the Ford Expedition.
This award is the second time that Evanston has been recognized as a national leader. In 1933, the National Safety Council awarded the Evanston Police Department with the national grand prize for traffic safety. Through the years, the Evanston Police Department has continued to foster safe streets by proactively educating the public and creatively enforcing traffic safety laws. Programs and initiatives such as occupant restraint education, roadside safety checkpoints, impaired driving enforcement, Teen DUI presentations, and enforcement of distracted driving has established Evanston again as a leader in traffic safety and accident prevention.