The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) offers its congratulations to the winners of the 2014 National Law Enforcement Challenge (NLEC). The NLEC is a friendly, international traffic safety competition among law enforcement agencies focused on occupant protection, speed enforcement, and preventing impaired driving, that allows them to make a difference in the communities they serve and helps departments learn from each other.

The Challenge benefits drivers on the road, law enforcement, and civilians alike, as agencies set future goals for traffic safety by identifying issues and developing programs to address those problems. A full list of the 2014 NLEC winners can be found at www.theiacp.org/NLEC.

Stressing the importance of highway and roadway safety, IACP President and Woodway (Texas) Public Safety Department Director Yousry “Yost” Zakhary stated, “Law enforcement needs to come together through education, awareness, and high-visibility traffic enforcement to change the high-risk behaviors of motorists that lead to crashes.”

This year, the criteria used to measure the applications for the NLEC changed to focus on problem identification, planning, and outcomes. To better facilitate the change in format, Laser Technology Inc. (LTI) sponsored three webinars that helped educate law enforcement agencies, prepare their applications, and provide other pertinent information regarding the Challenge.

Law enforcement agencies that took part in any of the three webinars and submitted an application to the NLEC by the May 2014 deadline were entered in a drawing to win LTI traffic enforcement lasers. For the first webcast, LTI donated an LTI 20/20 TruCAM video laser that is capable of measuring speeds while recording a chain of video evidence along with a high-resolution photo of violators’ license plate. For the second and third webcast, each attendee had a chance to win another TruCAM and an LTI 20/20 TruSpeed Sxb with smartphone brackets and a licensed copy of LTI’s SpeedCapture App. This product combination makes distracted driving enforcement possible with the laser’s seven-power scope aligned with a smartphone camera, giving law enforcement the ability to clearly see violations and capture a time and date stamped photo.

All in all, LTI donated five complete Lidar systems to NLEC’s cause.

Winners selected in the NLEC Webcast prize drawing: Gloucester Township (N.J.) Police Department, Calvert County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office, Hall County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office, Carol Stream (Ill.) Police Department, St. Mary’s County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office.

The NLEC winners will be presented with their awards at the Highway Safety Awards Breakfast on October 28, 2014, taking place during the 121st Annual IACP Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Fla. The breakfast will be held at the Hilton Orlando, adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center – West Building.

The application process for the 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge will open this fall.

About the IACP

The International Association of Chiefs of Police is a dynamic organization that serves as the professional voice of law enforcement. The IACP addresses cutting edge issues confronting law enforcement though advocacy, programs and research, as well as training and other professional services. IACP is a comprehensive professional organization focused on supporting the law enforcement leaders of today and developing the leaders of tomorrow.

About Laser Technology, Inc.

Laser Technology, Inc. engineered the very first commercial speed laser for speed enforcement and is now developing innovative traffic safety lasers and crash scene mapping tools. LTI also manufactures professional-grade handheld lasers, mapping accessories, and software solutions for GIS, forestry, mining, construction, and utility markets.