At the Village Board of Trustees Meeting on September 20, the Lombard Police Department was recognized for its efforts in promoting safe driving.
Lombard Officer Recognized with Prestigious Award Officer Andrew Stern was presented with the 2018 Looking Beyond the Belt Award by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, or ILACP. The award is given out to officers who made traffic stops solely for a seat belt violation that results in the discovery, solving or prevention of a crime. Officer Stern was presented the award for a seat belt violation traffic stop he conducted on June 23, 2018. After speaking with the driver, Officer Stern identified a smell of cannabis and performed a field sobriety test, which the driver failed. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded semi-automatic weapon and two loaded magazines. The driver was charged with a DUI, aggravated unlawful use of weaponry and a felony possession of a controlled substance.
“As a result of his efforts, Officer Stern took an armed impaired driver off the road of Lombard, making the streets and community safe for the people who live, work, and travel through Lombard,” said Scott Christensen, law enforcement liaison for the Illinois Department of Transportation and spokesperson for ILACP.
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Challenge
Lombard was presented with the 2nd place award in the municipality division for the second year in a row for the ILACP’s Traffic Safety Challenge. The challenge is a friendly competition between similar size and type of law enforcement agencies and targets three major traffic safety priorities including occupant protection (safety belt and child seat usage), speeding and impaired driving. Winners were recognized for their effectiveness of their overall safety programs and were evaluated for enforcement initiatives, innovative problem solving in their communities, use of public information activities and more. Visit www.iltrafficchallenge.org for additional information.
Illinois Specialty Award for Impaired Driving
Lombard Police made 313 DUI arrests in 2017, resulting in the department being named top in the state for DUI arrests based on size. The ILACP presented the Illinois Specialty Award to the Lombard Police Department for their efforts in cracking down on impaired drivers.
Illinois Speed Awareness Day Recognition Award
The ILACP, in partnership with Faces for Families Against Chronic Excessive Speed or FACES4, recognized the Lombard Police Department for its efforts during Illinois Speed Awareness Day, which took place on July 25, 2018. Dee Brandt, a founder of FACES4, in conjunction with the ILACP’s Traffic Safety Committee, presented the Speed Awareness Day’s Outstanding Recognition Award to the Lombard Police Department
“We deal with up to 600 agencies throughout the state, and I have to say that you have one of the finest police departments in Illinois,” said Scott Christensen, liaison to the ILACP. “You are lucky to have these police officers and your Chief protecting you.”
View Board Meeting Recognition Presentation