The Henrico County Division of Police recently won first place for the seventh consecutive year in the 2011 Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Challenge Awards as the agency with the best traffic safety programs in its size statewide.

Henrico’s division included agencies with 451 to 700 officers. The division also won first place in the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s national competition among agencies with 501 to 1,000 officers – the first time it had won at the national level.

The division’s Traffic Safety Unit and Chief Douglas A. Middleton will receive the awards at the annual VACP and IACP Conferences that will be held later this year.

“This recognition is a result of a total team effort to enhance traffic safety initiatives throughout the county,” Middleton said. “This exceptional police work was led by the Traffic Safety Unit but involved all Henrico Police Division, sworn, patrol officers. The men and women who contributed to this effort deserve all of the recognition for these distinguished awards.”

The Law Enforcement Challenge competition strengthens and supports nationwide traffic safety, education, and enforcement. The competition targets three major traffic safety priorities: occupant protection impaired driving, and speeding.

The IACP and VACP require agencies to provide a detailed report, documenting their agencies efforts and effectiveness for the entire previous year in the following areas: officer training, public information and education, incentives and recognition, policy and guidelines, and enforcement efforts to reduce crashes and injuries.