Madison Police Honored For Efforts To Keep Our Streets Safe

AAA Southern New England–CT recently honored eight Connecticut law enforcement agencies, including the Madison Police Department, for outstanding traffic safety education and enforcement programs in their respective communities.

In its second Annual Community Traffic Safety Award Program lunch at the Trumbull Marriott, Public Affairs Manager Fran Mayko presented Madison Officers Jason Dolce and Brian Phillips with a national Silver Award for the department’s comprehensive traffic safety programs.

Mayko said the Madison Police Department was recognized for several programs and initiatives, including their Citizens Police Academy and for having a police officer go in to school classrooms to give presentations on underage drinking, driving safety, and distracted driving. The department's partnership with the Madison Alcohol and Drug Education coalition was another factor, she said.

The department also presents information on the town's public access television station relating to traffic issues and traffic hazards, Mayko said. An ongoing DUI enforcement campaign, and Click-It-Or-Ticket seatbelt enforcement campaign, funded in part by the state Department of Transportation, were considered as well, she said. 

"They also have a traffic calming campaign, in cooperation with the town engineer [Mike Ott], and other civic organizations," Mayko said. 

In addition to those factors, the award committee also takes into consideration factors like traffic fatalities, that can sometimes beyond the control of the local police departments, Mayko said. "We look for trends in terms of bike fatalities, bike injuries, and pedestrian fatalities," Mayko said.

Mayko said this is the first year that Madison has submitted an application to the program. Other municipalities receiving special plaques were Fairfield, Greenwich, Shelton, Milford, Newtown, Torrington and Wilton.

In addition, the Providence-based auto club also honored 28 departments in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties for their years without a pedestrian safety fatality through the end of 2010.

These departments were presented with an award of excellence, commendation or citation: Ansonia, Barkhamsted, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Colebrook, Derby, East Haven, Easton, Goshen, Guilford, Hamden, Kent, Lakeville, Litchfield, Madison, Meriden, Middlebury, Monroe, Morris, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Milford, Norfolk, North Branford, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Redding, Ridgefield, Salisbury, Seymour, Southbury, Southbury, Stamford, Stratford, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Washington, West Haven, Weston, Wilton, Winsted, Woodbury, and Woodbridge.

The towns of Redding and Weston were also cited as municipalities that haven’t had a pedestrian traffic fatality in 36 years. Accepting for the town of Redding was Police Chief Douglas Fuchs and the town of Weston was Police Chief John Troxell.