Santa Cruz CHP is First in the State in Safety and Education

California Highway Patrol officer Sarah Jackson was proud that the local division's 58 officers won two prestigious awards – but the real proof that something is going right is in the results.

"There were four deaths in Santa Cruz this year," she said. "Seven in 2010 and 16 in 2009."

In many previous years there were as many as 25 traffic fatalities, she added, but education and enforcement have helped cut the numbers by 69 percent since 2008.

Awareness of the dangers of alcohol, the need for safety belts and safe driver education have been key, she said.

The award was presented by CHP Assistant Commissioner Ramona Prieto, who is the first female Assistant Commissioner of the CHP, and also the first female motorcycle officer and the most senior CHP Officer in the state

Departments throughout the state are judged by a panel of chiefs of police who are presented with binders showing what each agency has done to increase training and enforcement. The competition is classed by size of the agencies: Santa Cruz won in its class of 51-65 officers.

"Of everything we do, this is the most important accomplishment," said CHP Lieutenant Les Bishop, of the reduction in fatalities, in a press release. 

"These are not just statistics, but lives.  Our officers see and believe that their work saves lives and I could not be more proud of their successes.”

The California Law Enforcement Challenge is funded by a grant by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The organization believes the challenge inspires officers to do more for safety and education.

Jackson said that the public has also helped crack down on dangerous drivers, using cell phones to report them more often than ever.

The departments get plaques for the award.

"It's a big honor," said Jackson. "If we're not educating people and enforcing the law, then we're not going to change behavior."