Cranford Police Take Top Honors In NJ Law Enforcement Challenge

The was recently honored after receiving a first place finish in the 46-75 officer category of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge for the fifth 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 wining safety programs are those that combine officer training, public information, and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries within its jurisdiction. The township of Cranford saw a 32 percent decrease in injury related crashes in 2011.

The Cranford Police Department also finished the competition with the highest overall score for all department categories. For placing first overall, the department received a Whelen Liberty light bar from Mobile Fleet, LLC. valued at $3,500. The Whelen light bar will be used to replace an older model currently in its fleet.

The Law Enforcement Challenge is financed through a grant awarded to the International Association of Chief’s of Police by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 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 its own state Challenge program along with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.