Newton Falls – Newton Falls Police Department was honored together with more than 50 other Northeast Ohio law enforcement agencies on Veterans Day for their traffic safety efforts and programs implemented to encourage safe driving.
The Community Traffic Safety awards were presented at a luncheon held at Embassy Suites in Independence.
Ten platinum recipients and 46 additional departments excelled in making their communities safer. This is the first time in many years that Newton Falls had excelled to receive the Silver Award. Other departments received Gold, Silver, Bronze or Commendation Awards.
Chief Gene H. Fixler, said this a part of a national event has been held for more than 30 years, to locally recognize police work across 13 counties in Northeast Ohio, that extends past routine duties to keep streets safe.
Chief Fixler believes that the average citizen does not realize how much their police department works toward actually making their city and streets safe. This includes programs ranging from bike helmet safety, to school visits educating high school students about the dangers of texting while driving and drinking and driving, Fixler said.
Other police departments receiving the awards include: Bedford, Bentleyville, Brady Lake, Bratenahl, Brook Park, Burton, Canfield, Chardon, Cleveland Heights, Eastlake, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Geneva, Glenwillow, Highland Heights, Hiram, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lowellville, Lyndhurst, Maple Heights, Mentor, Middlefield, Moreland Hills, New Middletown, Niles, North Royalton, Norwalk, Orange Village, Parma Heights, Pepper Pike, Russell Township, Shaker Heights, Solon, South Euclid, South Russell, Strongsville, University Heights, Waite Hill, Walton Hills, Wickliffe, Willard, Willoughby and Willowick; Ashland, Geauga and Huron County Sheriffs’ Offices; and Lake County Metroparks Ranger Departments.
According to a recent AAA news release, during 2013, there were 990 traffic deaths on Ohio roads and highways,
The officers of The Newton Falls Police department continue to strive to reduce traffic incidents by conducting educational programs through our schools while encouraging the development of safe driving habits, Chief Fixler said.
