34 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: AUGUST 2017 By monitoring and ad- dressing unjustified speed activations, the department was able to reduce the number from 616 activa- tions the year prior to de- ploying the alerts, to just 55 within the 12 months since the program was initiated. This remarkable reduc- tion in speed helped the department save over $250,000 in claims and damages resulting from vehicle crashes. Continued from page 30 Similarly, the Snohom- ish County (WA) Sheriff’s Office changed the way officers approached op- erating their cruisers. The department imple- mented a list of tenets called, “Below 100” (be- low100.org) and changed their motto from “Get there first, get there fast” to “Get there safe, get there alive,” reinforcing the fact that an officer cannot assist in a scene if they crash before arriv- ing. This simple, yet sober- ing, statement remains an effective reminder of some of the simple things each officer can do to ensure their safety while traveling on road- ways. Desiree Luongo is the Se- nior Project Manager, Officer Safety and Wellness at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Visit www.LawMemorial. org for more information about law enforcement of- ficers killed in the line of duty. Vehicle crashes pose threat W hilemanypo- lice officers c o m p l a i n that they are disrespected and second- guessed, it’s hard to make a credible argument that law enforcement people don’t receive lots of awards and commendations. In addition to the agency “officer of the month/year” awards, there are countless others handed out by groups like Mothers Against Drunk- en Driving, po- lice support or- ganizations and civic groups like the Chamber of Commerce. But in Albu- querque the ta- bles have been turned. The Albuquerque Police Officers Association re- cently announced that it was giving the “Most Out of Touch with Their Com- munity” award to the local Chamber of Commerce. So why would a police union thumb its nose at an organization that routinely awards police officers for actions in the line of duty? Union officials say the fake award was given out of spite after the chamber announced it was giving Albuquerque Mayor Rich- ard Berry an award “for Ex- cellence in Public Safety.” “It’s laughable,” police union President Shaun Wil- loughby told reporters with the Albuquerque Journal. Willoughby said Berry is responsible for the city’s rising crime rates because officers have not had a raise. Officials for the Chamber say they’ve come to expect the traditional firefights between mayors and po- lice unions and this is just standard stuff and par for the course. “My first re- a c t i o n w a s ‘Oh, give me a break,’” said Terri Cole, the CEO of the Chamber. “The mayor and the police union have been fight- ing for years.” Willoughby says the Albu- querque P.D. is an agency in crisis and the mayor’s done nothing to help resolve the situation. “We’re understaffed in every attribute in this com- munity,” he said. “We have people getting crucified on trees in the open space and there are only four open space officers.” For those who don’t live in Albuquerque, Willough- by was talking about an incident where a man was found nailed to a tree. The man survived. “They are out of touch. They’re supposed to be supporting the business community and they are not,” Willoughby said about the Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses don’t feel safe. Businesses don’t think crime is down. “I don’t think the Cham- ber of Commerce is thinking at all, to be frank,” he said. “I think this makes them lose credibility as an organiza- tion. And I believe the busi- ness community that they represent should be furious that the Chamber is not sup- porting public safety.” The APOA has selected the Chamber of Commerce as winner of the 2017 “Most out of touch with their Community” award Cops blast Chamber They’re supposed to be supporting the business community and they are not.