PIPD wins state award
By Kathy McCarty
PIPD WINS TOP AWARD — The Presque Isle Police Department was honored during a recent Presque Isle City Council session, with City Manager Jim Bennett presenting members of the PIPD with the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Award for placing first in the Law Enforcement Challenge. Pictured from left are: Bennett, Sgt. Joey Seeley, Officer Kevin Reed and Chief Naldo Gagnon.
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle Police Department was recognized by City Council Sept. 8 for its continued efforts to keep the community safe.
City Manager Jim Bennett presented the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Award to the PIPD for the efforts of Sgt. Joey Seeley and Officer Kevin Reed, who compiled a scrapbook explaining how the department worked to prevent drunk driving and speeding and enforced seatbelt use. The book was entered in the annual Law Enforcement Challenge, winning first place in this year’s competition.
“The book came in first in the entire state — the annual safety challenge. It includes information from what the department has done in the past year in the way of public safety,” said Bennett.
Bennett presented Chief Naldo Gagnon, Seeley and Reed with a plaque denoting the honor. The city manager said it was really the citizens who were the winners.
“It’s an even better reward to the taxpayers because the department received about $8,000 in equipment, including new radar and an in-car camera system,” said Bennett.
The scrapbook, according to Seeley, is an accumulation of what the department does throughout the year.
“Much of it consists of news clippings from the Star-Herald that shows what the PIPD does to promote traffic-related safety in the community. It’s a department effort. Kevin and I compiled the information,” said Seeley, noting he collected the data, while Reed created the graphics and handled layout.
Seeley said the Challenge relies heavily on what type of news coverage a department receives as it works to promote safety.
“We’re judged on how we use the press. It’s a two-way street. We give news agencies the best data we can, working to provide information in the most efficient way possible. Then the media helps us get the message out,” said Seeley.
The scrapbook covers three areas: seatbelt use, impaired driving and speeding.
“Statistically, statewide figures show aggressive traffic enforcement is directly related to safety on our streets,” he said. “We’d rather have people get rides home than be arrested.”
Seeley shared some recent traffic statistics that reflect how the police visibility has factored into safety on the roads.
“Vehicular fatalities have been low, with a three-year period showing only four fatalities: two in 2007, one in 2008 and one in 2009. Motor vehicle crashes have also dropped, from a high of 90 in 2007, to 67 in 2008 and 74 in 2009 — putting us at the three-year average of 74,” said Seeley. “This is directly related to our visibility and our traffic programs, such as seatbelt checks and speed details.”
“They (officers) did a great job. This reflects the great work everyone’s done,” said Gagnon.
The top three in this year’s competition were: Presque Isle, finishing in first place; Rockland Police Department, finishing second; and Sagadahoc Sheriff’s Department finished third.
“Presque Isle is considered a large department. Twenty departments participated this year,” said Seeley.
This marks the fourth year PIPD has participated in the competition and the fourth year it’s finished in the top three.
In other news, Council also:
• Extended until Jan. 20, 2011, the moratorium on the creation of new dwelling units on the first floor facing a public way between Maple and Blake streets in the existing retail business zone;
• Approved the renewal of automobile graveyard and/or junkyard permits for Fred Bonville, d/b/a Fred’s Auto, 204 Chapman Rd.; Geary S. Bonville, d/b/a G.S. Bonville & Son, 228 Chapman Rd.; and Timothy Cowett, d/b/a Cowett’s Used Auto Parts, 259 Fort Rd.; and an automobile recycling permit for Geary S. Bonville, d/b/a G.S. Bonville & Son — with Council setting conditions for both Fred Bonville and Geary Bonville at their respective locations;
• Approved the renewal of a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license application for Hope and James Estey, d/b/a Pat’s Pizza, 9 North St.;
• Scheduled two public hearings to extend the moratorium regarding marijuana dispensaries for Oct. 4 and Nov. 1;
• Heard a status report by Planning and Development Director Ken Arndt on a possible dog exercise area;
• Approved consent agenda items;
• Heard a presentation by Bennett on the Capital Improvement Plan, which is scheduled to be accepted at the same time as the budget;
• Rejected all five bids for contract snowplowing, and authorized the city manager to hire two full-time Public Works employees;
• Approved extending Wintergreen Art Center’s note an additional six months;
• Accepted petitions regarding the proposed bypass and the impact it will have on the ATV trail system;
• Received a status report in indoor pool usage;
• Discussed early retirement incentives;
• Not withstanding the existing bidding requirements, voted in favor of changing the bidding process for the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library Project only, to ‘invite only’ process and further authorize the city manager, upon consultation with the architect on the project, to select not less than five qualified Aroostook County firms to be invited to participate; and
• Tabled establishing a Strategic Planning Committee until the Oct. 4 Council meeting.
City Council’s next session will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct. 4 at City Hall. Meetings are open to all and the public is encouraged to participate.
For more information, contact 760-2785.
