Tribal Police Receive County Traffic Safety Board Awards
May 3, 2017
AKWESASNE — At the first convening of the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board Enforcement Awards Ceremony to be held at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort on Onerahtohkó:wa/May 3, 2017; two members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department were honored for their contributions in keeping our community’s roadways safe. Franklin County Traffic Safety Board Co-Chairman Sergeant Brian Goetz, New York State Police Traffic Division, bestowed individual awards to Tribal Police Sargent William Ransom and Patrolman Nathan Boots, along with officers from various Franklin County law enforcement agencies.
“Recognition from the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board and the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee is an honor for our police department and is owed to the efforts of our individual officers, particularly Sergeant Ransom and Officer Boots,” said Tribal Chief of Police Matthew Rourke. He added, “Traffic Safety and preventing DWIs is a concern for everyone and we’re proud that our police department’s work is directly contributing to this important county-wide goal.”
Nine-year veteran of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Patrolman Nathan Boots was honored with an award for his contribution for Vehicle Traffic Law Enforcement. Patrolman Boots was recognized by the County Traffic Safety Board for leading the Tribal Police Department in traffic safety and enforcement during the past year with the issuance of around 280 traffic tickets.
“Traffic Enforcement is one of the most important parts of the work we do,” said Franklin County District Attorney Craig P. Carriero during the awards ceremony. He noted that law enforcement initiatives to prevent drunk driving and DWI-related arrests, “Not only keep our communities safe, but often lead to taking bad elements off the roads.”
Eight-year veteran of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Sergeant William Ransom received recognition for his contribution to Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Law Enforcement. Sargent Ransom led the Tribal Police Department during the past year with issuing eight (8) DWI tickets at drunk driving checkpoints or on community patrols.
Speaking at the award ceremony on behalf of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council was Chief Ron LaFrance, who shared with representatives from assorted law enforcement agencies, “I have the utmost respect for the difficult work you have to do on a daily basis in policing your own communities. Public Safety must never be taken lightly and police officers have my admiration for their seriousness and professional conduct while keeping our community’s safe.”
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department is a partnering law enforcement agency of the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, which belongs to the New York State Association of Traffic Safety Boards—a statewide association of county traffic safety boards; state and federal agencies; highway engineers; public safety professionals and individuals who share a goal of traffic safety and injury prevention.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department’s efforts to promote traffic safety and prevent drunk driving was recognized by the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board on Onerahtohkó:wa/May 3, 2017. Pictured are (from left): County Traffic Safety Board Co-Chairman Sergeant Brian Goetz, New York State Police Traffic Division; Tribal Patrolman Nathan Boot; Tribal Police Sergeant William Ransom and Tribal Chief of Police Matthew Rourke.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.