Safe Highway Alcohol Reduction Program (S.H.A.R.P.):

All Shelburne Police officers are members of the Chittenden County S.H.A.R.P. Team. This Team, consisting of officers from departments throughout the county, conducts concentrated traffic enforcement measures during holidays and other special events.  The officers received additional training in safety areas related to DUI detection and traffic enforcement.

During July and December of 2006, the Governor's Highway Safety Program developed a Holiday Campaign, where the goal for each agency was to participate in four sobriety checkpoints.  Shelburne Police Department along with the Chittenden County S.H.A.R.P. Team. Program set up 4 checkpoint dates, all of which we participated in. Shelburne Police understands and agrees that DUI prevention is very important and that is why we always try to take our enforcement efforts one step further.

In December 2006, the Governor's Highway Safety Program sponsored the 2006 Holiday DUI Enforcement Campaign with target dates of December 22, 2006 through January 1, 2007.  As we are all aware, there is always more traffic on our roadways during the holiday's, leading to more crashes and dampening holiday celebrations, bringing grief and tragedy to families throughout the country.  The Shelburne Police Department joined this Campaign because we wanted to increase safety on our highways, standing firmly behind the slogan "DUI, YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT".

In the fiscal year of 2005-2006, the Shelburne Police Department, in conjunction with the Hinesburg Community Police, was awarded a DUI Enforcement Grant from the Governor's Highway Safety in the amount of $12,000.  We utilized these funds to increase the actual number of officers assigned to the road during peak hours, where statistics have shown DUI enforcement is needed.  Each week, on our high incident nights or during certain holidays, these additional officers were assigned to saturation patrol in both the Towns of Shelburne and Hinesburg.  Their primary objective was to conduct motor vehicle law enforcement, with a specific goal of looking for subjects who may be operating motor vehicles under the influence.  These officers did not answer the routine calls of the Police Department, unless they were assisting other officers for officer-safety reasons.

Stop Teenage Alcohol Risk Team (S.T.A.R.T.):

All officers of the Shelburne Police Department are also members of the Chittenden County S.T.A.R.T., being very dedicated to “Zero Tolerance” when it comes to alcohol levels in minors. The officers keep a sharp watch while conducting motor vehicle stops, and while interacting with juveniles, especially during the “peak” times of the year such as school breaks, graduation and prom season.  Officers participated in numerous S.T.A.R.T.  details throughout the year, often intervening at large parties before anyone was able to leave and drive under the influence.

Training:

The Shelburne Police Department has offered its training facility to the Vermont Police Academy as well as other State and Local departments, including Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Vermont Liquor Control, etc.  Having a training facility like ours make it possible for many departments to attend, as we are centrally located and in a county with the highest police presence.

Every officer of the Shelburne Police Department has been trained by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council (VCJTC) in areas related to under the influence related incidents. Training includes: DUI enforcement, Field Sobriety tests and PBT training. Other areas include underage drinking law updates, and the latest enforcement efforts that are being utilized for prevention and enforcement measures statewide, and nationally. In 2006, Shelburne Police replaced all their Alco-sensors, and all officers were trained in their use.

On April 10th and 11th, Officer McKnight and Officer Marcoux of the Shelburne Police Department attended an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) sponsored workshop, "Strategies for Enforcing Underage Drinking" in Colchester, Vermont.  The workshop has assisted us in detecting, and more effectively dealing with underage drinking.  The Shelburne Police Department has continued our “Zero Tolerance” policy for underage drinking, and we issued citations to all persons caught drinking who are not of legal age, regardless of circumstances, or number of persons involved.

Public Education:

The Shelburne Police Department's Traffic Safety Coordinator is responsible for developing and scheduling public outreach and other educational activities.  We do this in cooperation with other departments in the county as well as with State and Federal agencies.  Other methods of getting traffic safety messages out are as follows:

In addition to the Checkpoints, during a Campaign, the Shelburne Police Department worked with J.A. MacDonald Construction, and asked to borrow one of their Mobile Traffic Message Boards.  This message board was placed on the side of US Route 7 (Shelburne Road) near the town line with South Burlington.  The board was in operation twenty fours a day for four days, and read “U DRINK, U DRIVE, U LOSE”.  We chose this location to remind all individuals driving south on Shelburne Road, of the consequences and importance of driving alcohol-free during the holiday season.

Shelburne Police Department in conjunction with several other area Police, Fire and EMS departments participated in a “Mock DUI and Crash Drill” every two years at Champlain Valley Union High School. The goal of the Drill is to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of Drinking and Driving and is held just prior to the Prom.  Officers from the Shelburne Police Department help demonstrate all of the steps that are taken during the dexterity phase of DUI Processing.  This year Shelburne Communications Center Call-taker/Dispatcher Ker Walker will again narrate the event, explaining to the students each step of the Crash from Extrication to Custody. We believe that our efforts paid off, as there were no serious collisions in our jurisdiction during the 2005 and 2006 Prom seasons.

On February 15, 2006, Champlain Valley Union High School asked the Shelburne Police Department to attend their Annual Career Day and to speak to the Driver's Education Class.  The Shelburne Police Department sent three patrol officers who spoke and answered questions on various topics including Vermont Seat Belt, Driving While Intoxicated and Aggressive Driving laws.  Students were given several brochures covering the various topics.