Police Win Hi-Tech Laser Traffic Gun in Challenge

The Cranford Police Department was awarded a hi-tech laser speed gun this month for their strong efforts in the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge.

Presented by Laser Technology, Inc., the $3,000 radar gun is used to gauge vehicle speed in high traffic areas where the use of the traditional Doppler radar technique falls flat. It was presented to the department for placing second in the overall challenge.

For the second year in a row, the Cranford Police Department also won a first place finish in the 45-65 officer category of the challenge.

Held in May, the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge is  a competition between similar sizes and types of law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. Modeled after the National Law Enforcement Challenge, it looks at the agencies' efforts to enforce traffic laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving, and speeding, said police officials. Safety programs that win combine officer training, public information, and enforcement to reduce traffic accidents and injuries.

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. 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.