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HPD Emphasizes "Children and Safety Belts"Vehicle + (Child) Passengers = BUCKLE UP!
Following the tragic accident that killed two children - an 8-month-old and a 2-year-old - on Interstate 220 in Jackson, MS over the weekend, Hattiesburg Police Department officials are reminding drivers to be cognizant of the state-mandated laws concerning child restraints.
According to state law, children under the age of 4 must be properly-restrained in a child-restraint seat; 4 to 6-year-olds who are either less than 57 inches or less than 65 pounds must be placed in a booster seat. On the other hand, children under age 7 who either weigh over 65 pounds or who are taller than 57 inches are permitted to be restrained by an adult safety belt.
After accompanying several officers to an awards luncheon for their enforcement of the state’s seatbelt laws two weeks ago, HPD Captain Ricky Myers said it is vital that every passenger in a vehicle is properly restrained, but especially children. "Of course child passenger safety seats do help to save lives, but only when they are properly installed," said Myers. If you are unsure that your child safety seat is properly installed, contact the HPD Traffic Division at 601-554-3602 or 601-545-4949 for child safety seat checks. For more information on the Jackson I-220 wreck, click the following link: http://www.wapt.com/news/27258372/detail.html
Buckle Up Child Passengers! |
HPD Rewards Students' Grades and BehaviorKids Go Skating for Outstanding Academics and Behavior
For remaining diligent towards their academics and behavior, approximately 30 students attending the Hattiesburg Police Athletic League (HPAL) Program were given a big surprise on Friday afternoon by officers in the HPD Community Relations Division.
The Friday before Spring Break, these students were busy having fun as they spent several hours challenging one another in skating at a local skating rink.
“We are so proud of these kids. They not only work hard in school, but also here in the HPAL Program. The least we can do is show them how much we appreciate their hard work,” said Officer Cedric Brown of the Community Relations Division.
The day concluded with a bitter-sweet presentation to a long-time HPAL volunteer, Mr. Cline, the father of current HPD Community Relations Officer Kevin Cline. The elder Cline, who spent several months visiting his son in Hattiesburg and chose to volunteer with the program because he loves helping youth, was presented a plaque of appreciation by Captain Ricky Myers and staff. Mr. Cline will leave Mississippi to spend more time with other out of state family members.
Students, keep up the good work!
Interstate 59 Fatality: Witnesses Wanted
HPD: Witnesses Asked To Come Forward in Collision Fatality on Interstate 59 For Immediate Release Hattiesburg, MS ∙ March 17, 2011
Photo: Courtesy of the Hattiesburg American....
Hattiesburg Police Department officials are seeking help today as they continue to investigate yesterday's deadly accident on Interstate 59.
Around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, Hattiesburg police responded to an accident involving a white Ford Ranger and two semi-tractor trailers. As a result of the collision, one of the trailers caught fire, leaving one driver dead and two others injured. Investigators are asking that anyone who may have witnessed this tragic accident to please call police headquarters at 601-545-4971 or 601-297-9227. |
And the Winner Is......
PoliceMEN and FireMEN Hold Pageant to Fight CANCER The Hattiesburg Police and Fire Departments would like to say THANK YOU to all who attended the Womanless Beauty Pageant on Thursday night. With a packed house filled with a lot of laughter, the pageant was a huge success. Collectively, over $600 was raised to aid the American Cancer Society. From the Relay for Life Committee, a big thank you is given to the participants! You guys were awesome….withstanding an hour and a half of (possible) humiliation in order to raise money for such a worthy cause; for that, you are deeply appreciated!!! Finally, congratulations to this year’s top winner, Fireman Jimmie Harrell -aka- “Kelly Davis”. Also, HPD Lt. Michael Fleming was crowned Miss Congeniality. Again, thank everyone for your support! Pageant Contestants Seatbelt Enforcement: State Honors OfficersState Recognizes Several HPD Officers for Seatbelt Enforcement
For Immediate Release Hattiesburg, MS ∙ March 11, 2011
Clap, clap, clap your hands and join Chief Frazier Bolton and members of the Hattiesburg Police Department as they extend a round of applause to several of their very own who were honored for their enforcement of seatbelt safety by state officials. On Thursday, March 10, 2011, seven HPD officers, including: Vincent Brown, Derek Holmes, Stephon Richardson, Erick Sharpe, Kyle Stuart, Robert Tech and Chad Young, along with Mitchell Hudgins, a former HPD officer, were recognized by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety at its annual state-wide awards luncheon which recognizes the efforts of individual law enforcement officers in the enforcement of the state’s seatbelt laws. For the third consecutive year, Officer Brown, a member of the traffic division, led the way with 627 seatbelt citations written during the 2010 calendar year. This placed him in the Gold Level category for issuing over 500 citations for seatbelts. Officers Hudgins (222), Sharpe (198), Stuart (155), Young (143), Holmes (109), Tech (106) and Richardson (101) received Bronze Level status for issuing between 100-249 seatbelt citations. HPD Captain Ricky Myers accompanied the officers to the luncheon in Jackson and praised the officers’ hard work. “Because of guys like Brown, Holmes, Richardson, Sharpe, Stuart, Tech, Young and Hudgins, numerous lives have been saved. At HPD, our goal is for people to know that we are concerned about their safety and we want them to be buckled up; not just because it is the law, but because it sure can cost their lives if they don't buckle up,” said Myers. According to Myers, the department in its entirety issued approximately over 2,600 seatbelt citations during the 2010 calendar year. Again, congratulations to each of these officers on a job well done!
(Officers Chad Young, Vincent Brown, Robert Tech and Stephon Richardson) |
