Glendora Police Recognized For Traffic Safety Efforts

For its work in coordinating the Avoid the 100 grant for East Los Angeles County and its various anti-alcohol-related programs, the Glendora Police Department was awarded first place in the 2010 California Law Enforcement Challenge for mid-sized police agencies.

Director Christopher Murphy of the California Office of Traffic Safety presented Police Chief Rob Castro and members of the police department’s DUI Enforcement Team with the award at the Glendora Police Department Thursday. For the first time in the department’s history, the Glendora Police Department was selected among 100 law enforcement agencies for the award.

During the California Law Enforcement Challenge, law enforcement agencies set comprehensive goals to reduce alcohol-related crimes and injuries, strive to reach new improvements in traffic safety, share their experiences with other agencies. The program recognizes police departments for their traffic safety accomplishments.

The Glendora Police Department manages the Avoid the 100 Grant for east Los Angeles County, requiring Glendora Police to coordinate and organize DUI efforts for 50 agencies in the east area of LA County. The grant funds driving-under-the-influence programs, including MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, DUI checkpoints, DUI patrols as well as public and officer training to reduce alcohol related incidents in Los Angeles County.

In an effort to reduce alcohol-related crimes and injuries, the Glendora Police Department has initiated several new programs, including Habitual Drunkard Notification, a program where the police department notifies liquor stores and markets of the names and pictures of individuals who have been arrested and convicted for multiple drunk-in-public violations. The establishments are reminded that it is illegal to sell alcohol to obviously intoxicated persons.

The department has also initiated the Business Alcohol Arrest Notification, which through education, partnerships and enforcement, the police department works with establishments that sell alcoholic beverages to reduce the sales of alcohol to intoxicated persons. Each time Glendora Police arrest an individual for an alcohol related offense, officers attempt to identify where the individual purchased or consumed alcohol prior to their contact with police. 

Notifications are sent to businesses identified as having sold or served alcohol to individuals who were arrested for an alcohol related crime. Business owners are asked to remind employees to diligently monitor patrons to ensure that they are not over served or allowed to purchase alcohol if they are obviously intoxicated. 

“I am very proud of the hard work by my personnel and success we have achieved in the area of traffic safety and alcohol related crimes,” said Castro. “The resources provided by the Avoid the 100 grant allows us to conduct programs that would otherwise not be feasible due to reduced staffing and resources.”