University Police, Officers Honored for Stop DWI Efforts

University Police and two officers were recognized for their commitment to the Clinton County STOP DWI program at the annual Clinton County Traffic Safety Program award luncheon Sept. 23 at the Barracks Golf Course.

“Each year, the Clinton County Traffic Safety Program, which includes STOP DWI, hosts a luncheon to recognize local police officers for their efforts in DWI apprehensions and traffic safety efforts,” said Jerry Lottie, chief of University Police. 

The traffic safety program organizers invite law enforcement personnel and those being recognized to the annual luncheon where they are honored with certificates of recognition.

Lottie said the luncheon recognition has been going on for about 20 years, and University Police has been taking part since its inception. The event has taken different forms throughout the years, but there has always been an annual recognition.

certificates as recognition for their efforts. Eighteen-year University Police veteran Barcomb was recognized for his efforts with traffic safety. Facteau, on the force for four years, was honored for her efforts with Stop DWI. Both officers have been recognized previous years in the same area.

Overall Efforts Recognized

Additionally, the entire department was honored by the Traffic Safety Program for its overall efforts.

“Our people are excelling and being recognized in the field, but (so are) the efforts that we put in to making campus safe, particularly in the area of traffic and pedestrian safety,” Lottie said.

University Police’s comprehensive traffic and pedestrian safety program, CrosSTEP, lays out its traffic safety program, an outcome of a strategic goal developed by the department in 2013 to address a safer environment for pedestrians as well as drivers.

Three Components

The program is broken down into three components: education, environment and law enforcement.

The educational approach uses posters, public service announcements, peer-to-peer education, pledge campaigns such as Stop-Look-Wave, and fliers to raise awareness about traffic safety for a safer environment.

“There are officers out engaging students and talking to people to educate them about traffic safety and pedestrian safety,” Lottie said.

The environmental component includes road markings, crosswalk signs, push button flashing signs and elevated crosswalks to help with traffic and pedestrian safety. It was the third component, law enforcement, for which Barcomb and Facteau received recognition, Lottie said.

For more information about CrosSTEP or any of University Police programs, contact Lottie at [email protected].