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Winter 2011 Smart, Safe & Sober Newsletter

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2010 Law Enforcement Challenge Workshops Help Agencies Enter the Challenge, Improve Traffic Safety Programs
Nearly 100 law enforcement officers and civliian volunteers attended 1 of 7 free workshops in January to get tips for improving their Challenge entries as well as developing a more comprehensive traffic safety program in their agencies

During January 2011, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Highway Safety Office once again held a number of Law Enforcement Challenge workshops across the Commonwealth. This year, seven workshops were offered to assist Virginia law enforcement agencies with assembling their 2010 Law Enforcement Challenge entries.

Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge Coordinator Erin Schrad and Virginia Highway Safety Office Law Enforcement Liaisons Frank Kowaleski conducted the workshops that were attended by nearly 100 individuals from approximately 55 agencies — both rookies and veterans alike. Attendees learned about the Challenge awards program and its benefits for an agency. They learned about how participating in the Challenge is not just about earning awards, but about helping agencies establish a comprehenisve and effective traffic safety education and enforcement program. The ultimate goal of the Challenge is, after all, to reduce fatalities and injuries on the Commonwealth's – and the nation's – roadways.

In addition to talking about the elements and efforts that make up a successful traffic safety program, the instructors provided the attendees with tips on how best to assemble their applications in order to earn the most points
possible. They also gave the attendees advice on changes that they could implement in their agencies this year to be in a better position
for the 2011 Challenge. Workshop attendees were also informed about related national highway safety awards programs that
they could apply for, such as the Looking Beyond the License Plate Awards and Vehicle Theft Awards of Merit.

2010 Law Enforcement Challenge Awards applications are due April 15, 2011 to the VACP.

If you were unable to attend the workshops but are thinking about entering the Challenge either this year or next, there is a plethora of helpful information on this web site on the Challenge application page, including a copy of the workshop PowerPoint, sample judging sheets, sample entries and a "How To" guide.

Additionally, if anyone entering has any questions about the Challenge program or putting together an applications, please contact Erin Schrad at erin@vachiefs.org or 804-285-8227 (office) or 804-512-5162 (cell).

 

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