An Advocate For Traffic Safety

To the Editor:

As a candidate for the Board of Police Commissioners I would like to share with you my experiences working with the Newtown Police Commission. On an early September morning in 2009, I and my young children were waiting at the school bus stop viewing numerous vehicles passing us at excessive speed. The signed speed limit on the roadway at that time was 25 mph. I realized then that it would be necessary for me to bring this safety issue to the attention of the Board of Police Commissioners, whose duties include traffic control in Newtown.

I attended my first Police Commission meeting in December 2009 along with several of my neighbors to petition for speed control devices. I was very impressed to find that a comprehensive traffic calming plan had already been completed for Newtown.

Under the leadership of Chairman Giannini, a plan of action was developed for our road; first digital speed display signs were installed; next an accident review was conducted. Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios instituted an ongoing police presence to enforce the speed limit. A history of the roadway revealed that the actual speed limit for the road was 20 mph and the signs were changed accordingly. Four traffic studies were conducted to review traffic patterns and the final piece of the puzzle was to install temporary speed calming devices to slow the vehicles. Studies revealed that over 10,000 vehicles travel the road Monday through Friday. The 85th percentile of speed was 43 mph, twice the legal speed limit.

After 21 months of attending nearly every Police Commission meeting, I was delighted when a unanimous motion was passed to move forward with the unprecedented installation of permanent speed calming devices. My role in that decision was threefold; first I raised awareness of the problem to the police department and to the Board of Police Commissioners; second I solicited signatures from all the households on the affected streets on two separate petitions; finally I was a constant presence at the Police Commission meetings where I represented the views of my neighbors and lobbied for a permanent solution to the problem.

I have been nominated by the Independent Party of Newtown as a candidate for the Board of Police Commissioners. I am very excited at the possibility of helping to carry on with the excellent work of the seated commissioners and to fulfill my goal of volunteering in the community.

As a member of the Police Commission I promise to work tirelessly for the safety of my fellow Newtown residents. Working hand-in-hand with members of the police department I will assure that traffic regulations are strictly enforced. I ask the voters of Newtown to consider me when they enter the voting booth on November 8.

Respectfully,

James P. Walsh

3 North Branch Road, Newtown                                                                     September 21, 2011