AAA honors Medina PD, Sheriff’s Office for traffic safety efforts
Albion and Holley PDs also recognized by AAA
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward, shown on Friday, has pushed several traffic safety initiatives.
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department received the top award for the first time from the America Automobile Association.
AAA on Wednesday presented Medina with a Platinum Award for its traffic safety initiatives. The department has won two gold awards, a silver and a bronze. Now it has won the highest recognition from AAA.
“We’ve stepped up our game over the last few years,” said Police Chief Chad Kenward.
The department has participated in initiatives for stepped up enforcement for driving while intoxicated and “Click It or Ticket” for motorists not wearing seatbelts.
Medina police officers also do a bike rodeo for local children and have two pedal cars with simulators for impaired driving. Officers also have been going to Medina health classes to discuss traffic safety.
AAA presented awards on Wednesday to law enforcement agencies in Orleans and Niagara counties.
Albion also was recognized with the Platinum Award. The Holley Police Department was presented a Bronze Award.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office won a Silver Award. The Sheriff’s Office hadn’t applied for the award before from AAA. Sheriff Randy Bower said the Sheriff’s Office has several programs to promote traffic safety, including the addition of a STOP DWI Driving Simulator. That simulator made its debut in April and has been taken to local schools and also to community events.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office used a grant from the New York State STOP DWI Committee to purchase a driving simulator where students and other users can see the effects of driving while texting, drowsy or if they are impaired or intoxicated.
File photo courtesy of David Klafehn: Jeremy Browe, a kendall student, drives the new STOP DWI Driving Simulator on April 27 at Kendall during the Senior Bash. Sheriff Randy Bower, front left, Chief Deputy Michael Mele and other Kendall students and parents get a close look at the simulator.
