Advancements in police department maintain excellence
Bee Editorial
The Amherst Police Department continues to shine as a leader in public safety. As new technologies become available, Amherst is finding a way to bring the best equipment and training to town.

The addition of the Mobile Plate Reader in the beginning of October resulted in at least two arrests within days of each other last month, as reported by Assistant Chief Timothy Green. The first was the recovery of a car reported stolen from Buffalo that was located on Transit Road, near Main Street. The plate reader alerted the officer to the status of the car, prompting a stop which was followed with an arrest.

The reader also alerted an officer of a car with a suspended registration. During the stop on Sheridan Drive, the officer located marijuana and hyrdocodone, a controlled substance. An arrest was also made in that incident.

And just recently, the Amherst Police Department hosted a Crime Scene Investigation Course that brought 14 agencies together to strengthen their skills, especially when dealing with major crime scenes.

The course has proven effective and is filled to capacity each year. Captain Michael Melton of the Amherst Police Department has been directing the course for years and has heard positive feedback on how the course has helped officers in the field. He also commented on cases that benefited from officers attending the course, most recently the bike path rapist case.

With advancements in technology, especially the ability to link DNA to both old and new crimes, it's extremely important that data from scenes is collected carefully and efficiently, to not contaminate evidence. So those handling it must have the best training, and Amherst is lucky enough to have that.

The department continues to be recognized on local, state and federal levels for the members' and the agency's achievements. Not everyone can claim to live in the "Safest City in America."

We would like to acknowledge the hard work and success of the police department. Recognition for the courage and efforts of each member doesn't happen often enough. We hope that the department can continue to improve to be a step ahead of growing crime.

As some areas of town ask for help, the Eggertsville Community Organization held a meeting about the increase in crime on Tuesday. We know the police department can respond to the needs of that section of town.

Kudos on the work done over the years and keep up the good work, as everyone knows it's not a job that ever gets easier.