LATHROP - Lathrop Police Services has taken a first place in traffic safety results throughout the community that have lowered the potential for deaths and injuries.

California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) director Christopher Murphy is making a special presentation today at 9 a.m. to Lathrop Chief Danelle Hohe at the department’s offices on Seventh Street.

The OTS first place award is part of the California Law Enforcement Challenge program based on the Lathrop officers efforts to ensure traffic safety. 

Also on hand to receive the honor will be Mayor Chaka Santos, City Councilman Sonny Dhaliwal and City Manager Steve Salvatore.

Funding for traffic safety campaigns such as Lathrop’s are provided by a grant from OTS through the National Highway Traffic Administration.

OTS spokesman Chris Cochran said that California’s law enforcement community has set ambitious goals for traffic safety enforcement and education.  Police officers have unprecedented responsibilities to prevent traffic fatalities which now occur at the rate of one every two hours in California, to reduce the number of serious injuries resulting from traffic collisions and to positively impact the spiraling emergency services and health care costs.

Lathrop Police Services and other agencies state-wide that have entered the California Law Enforcement Challenge are evaluated on the following programs: policy statements on traffic safety programs, officer training, public information and education, enforcement activities, effectiveness, incentives and recognition as well as quality of submission.