Geneva Police Department Places 2nd In Traffic Safety Challenge

GENEVA, IL — The Geneva Police Department placed second in the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police's 2022-23 Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge, officials announced Monday.

Geneva police competed in the division for municipalities with 36-50 sworn officers.

The challenge pits law enforcement agencies of similar size against each other with the ultimate goal to reduce the number of crashes, deaths and associated injuries across the state, according to a news release. The program is also designed to be a template for agencies to identify traffic issues, plan strategies, reduce social harm and improve the quality of life in their communities.

This year, the Geneva Police Department was also selected as Rookie of the Year for participating in its inaugural Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge.

Here's a look at the number of traffic stops police made in 2021 and 2022 for various infractions:

Speeding violations

• 2021: 2,764
• 2022: 2,631

Distracted driving, cell phone

• 2021: 181
• 2022: 165

Driving under the influence arrests

• 2021: 36
• 2022: 60

Officials said Sgt. George Carbray and Officer Erica Bolger were "integral in regards to compiling information and presenting it to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in a highly professional manner."

"Your efforts serve as an example to other agencies as we continue our work to make Illinois’ roads safer places to travel," Scott Kristiansen, director of the Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge, wrote in a letter to Geneva Police Chief Eric Passarelli, per a news release.

The challenge is supported by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.