CHP recognizes Glendale police

The Glendale Police Department earned second place among similarly-sized agencies in California for its education, enforcement and traffic safety efforts.

California Highway Patrol Chief Steve Beeuwsaert bestowed the CHP-sponsored 2010 California Law Enforcement Challenge award to Police Chief Ron De Pompa and traffic officers during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“This is indeed in an honor,” De Pompa said. “We appreciate so much our working relationship with our regional partners, and traffic safety obviously is a regional problem. It’s not unique just to Glendale.”

The Bakersfield Police Department won first place and the Riverside Police Department earned a third-place award.

The CHP challenges law enforcement agencies throughout the state each year to evaluate their education, enforcement and training efforts for issues related to seat-belt use, child-seat protection, speed and DUI.

Glendale competed against police agencies that have 250 to 500 sworn officers.

De Pompa recognized members of the Police Department’s Traffic Bureau for their work.

Sgt. Dennis Smith acquired more than $1 million in grant funding to support traffic safety efforts, he added.

“In these days, when resources are tight and budgets can’t meet all the needs, you really have to be creative and kind of think outside the box to do innovative things,” De Pompa said.