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Hamilton Police Service Sergeant Dwayne Barnes Awarded the 2024 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award
For Immediate Release: June 11, 2024
(London, ON) – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is pleased to award the 2024 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award to Sergeant Dwayne Barnes of the Hamilton Police Service.
This award is presented to an individual or police organization that creates, develops, and implements a highly successful traffic safety program in Ontario.
Since assuming leadership in January 2022, Sergeant Barnes has been dedicated to traffic safety, mentorship, and community engagement, making a profound impact on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious motor vehicle collisions in our community. Under Sgt. Barnes’ stewardship, the HPS Traffic Safety Unit has adopted a fulsome approach to enhancing road safety.
Sgt. Barnes' commitment to developing traffic safety officers has been unwavering, having personally mentored cadets, recruits, and officers. His leadership was instrumental in the training of HPS’ Commercial Vehicle Officers, a testament to his dedication to improving safety standards in every facet of traffic management.
Sgt. Barnes’ mentorship extends beyond his team; he is a pillar of knowledge and support for the community. Through attending community meetings and delivering targeted presentations, he has elevated public awareness on the importance of traffic safety, directly contributing to a decrease in serious motor vehicle collisions and fatalities in the City of Hamilton.
Sgt. Barnes has also introduced innovative approaches to traffic enforcement, including a variety of enforcement and educational activities aimed at addressing a wide range of traffic safety issues. These initiatives include developing engaging traffic safety videos for social media to implementing strategic traffic plans targeting critical offences like distracted driving and speeding. Perhaps most impressively, Sgt. Barnes has fostered significant partnerships with community stakeholders and law enforcement agencies, including the City of Hamilton, Accident Support Services International Ltd., and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. These collaborations have been crucial in developing and executing strategic traffic safety plans that address community concerns effectively such as Vision Zero.
The impact of Sgt. Barnes’ initiatives are impressive. Under his leadership, the City of Hamilton has seen a 26% decrease in traffic-related fatalities and at 19% decrease in personal injury motor vehicle collisions. His ability to advocate for and deploy Commercial Vehicle Officers has directly contributed to this success, underscoring his innovative and community-focused approach to traffic safety. Sgt. Barnes’ comprehensive dedication to traffic safety, his role as a mentor and educator, and his innovative enforcement strategies have not only improved traffic safety in the City of Hamilton, but have saved lives and fostered a safer community for all.
This annual award is made possible by the generous support from the
Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. José Luís (Joe) Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications
T. (416) 926-0424 ext. 22
C. (416) 919-9798
E. media@oacp.ca
X. @OACPOfficial
@OACPCertificate
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