Full Notification

COMMUNITY TRAFFIC INITIATIVE

The Topsfield Police Department recently implemented a Traffic Division. This division will be lead by Sgt. Jack Hayward who will over see the planning, implementation and success of multiple traffic related projects. Sgt. J. Hayward will be assisted by Patrolman Neal Hovey and Michael Balsley.

The main focus of the Traffic Division is to gain voluntary compliance of all motor vehicle laws from motorists who travel throughout Topsfield. This model will be based on the “Three E’s” Enforcement, Engineering and Education.

In 2009 the Topsfield Police Department performed 1,855 motor vehicle stops for various violations of the law and responded to 174 motor vehicle crashes. With the creation of this new division, it is our goal to better allocate the departments resources to combat the following issues:

• Speeding vehicles in neighborhoods

• Analyze crash data to reduce the number of crashes

• Unnecessary commercial vehicle traffic in neighborhoods

• Assist neighborhoods with any traffic related complaints or ideas

After the first of the year, the Traffic Division will be hosting neighborhood meetings at the Town Library to further explain some of our ideas, monitoring equipment and recent traffic statistic’s that have been gathered. We are also looking for the community’s ideas, concerns and issues so we can create safer roadways within our town by identifying problems and solutions to better enhance the quality of life for our citizens.

If you are interested in attending the neighborhood traffic meetings, assisting us in combating our traffic issues or you have any issues that you see or believe exist, we would like to hear about them. Please email Chief Evan Haglund at [email protected].

We will keep you updated as to the scheduling of our neighborhood traffic meetings and as to the progress of the traffic division. In closing, the Topsfield Police Department would like to wish you a Safe and Happy Holiday season.