Cranford Police Department Earns N.J. Law Enforcement Challenge Awards

 The Cranford Police Department was recently honored after receiving a first place finish in the 46-75 officer category of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge for the third year in a row. 

The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition between similar sizes and types of law enforcement agencies.  It recognizes and rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in the United States. 

The areas of concentration include efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving, and speeding.  The winning safety programs are those that combine officer training, public information, and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries within its jurisdiction.

The Cranford Police Department also finished the competition with the second-highest overall score for all department categories.  For placing second overall, the department received a Doppler radar unit from MPH Industries, Inc. valued at $2,500.  Unlike traditional radar units, this unit allows officers to isolate traffic from only one lane, while disregarding other lanes and directions.  The radar unit will be used for speed enforcement on a daily basis.

The Law Enforcement Challenge is financed through a grant awarded to the International Association of Chief's of Police (IACP) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Both of these organizations believe an increase in traffic enforcement in a community results in a decrease in motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. 

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police has established it's own state Challenge program along with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.