SANTA CRUZ Calif. (DNR) Santa Cruz area California Highway Patrol received two awards for safety this month.
The CHP offers a variety of awards for offices throughout the state that are willing to participate in the program and file an application with the state. The CHP says that a traffic fatality occurs every two hours in the state. The goal is to increase that number.
“The California Law Enforcement Challenge (CLEC) program allows law enforcement agencies to setcomprehensive goals, to strive to reach new heights in traffic safety, to share their experiences with others,” the CHP said in their statement.
This year the Santa Cruz are CHP won the Speed Awareness Award. They also won for outstanding community traffic safety program among agencies with 51 to 65 officers.
The Challenge uses experts from across the country that reviews the applications and scores each area by assigning points for each criterion. After the points are totaled and averaged, award decisions are made. Since each winner must score at least 50 points, there are categories where no awards will be presented.
Ramona Prieto, assistant commissioner of the CHP, is expected to present the award at the area office at 10395 Soquel Drive in Aptos on December 19th at 3:30 pm.
By: Greg Cook
Local Reporter