UNF Police Department Wins Florida Law Enforcement Challenge

Joanna Norris, Associate Director

Department of Public Relations

(904) 620-2102

The University of North Florida Police Department recently won the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge for the best overall traffic safety program, beating out all other universities in the State.

The University police officers developed and implemented traffic plans and programs, which included enforcement, public education, child seat installation, occupant protection and DUI safety education. The award ceremony was held July 9 in Orlando.

”We are honored and proud to receive this award, which reflects our commitment to our community and the educational process,” said John Dean, chief of the UNF Police Department.

Last year, the UPD garnered both national and state awards for its traffic safety program on campus. The police department was awarded first place in the 2008-2009 International Association of Chiefs of Police National Law Enforcement Challenge and won second place in the Florida Department of Transportation’s Florida Law Enforcement Challenge.

Both of these competitions recognize and reward the best overall traffic safety programs in the United States. The National Law Enforcement Challenge had more than 530 agencies in various categories competing from all over the country, recognizing university police departments’ efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding.

UNF’s Police Department is entrusted to preserve the peace, provide general police services to the University community, and enforce the laws of the State of Florida, the ordinances of the City of Jacksonville, as well as the rules, policies and traffic regulations of UNF.

The police department is comprised of 29 full-time sworn police officers, eight communications operators, two professional staff members, six part-time employees and four security positions at MOCA Jacksonville, a cultural resource of UNF.

-UNF-