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Mrs. Jessica Sears Younce of Chesterfield County Recognized with 2016-17 VACP President's Award
This year, 2016-17 VACP President Colonel Thierry G. Dupuis, Ret. (Chesterfield County) is proud to recognize Mrs. Jessica Sears Younce.
Since 2008, Jessica Sears Younce has been dedicated to working with the law enforcement profession to increase awareness of the potentially harmful effects of high speed driving by police officers. By sharing her personal experience involving the tragic death of her late husband, Colonial Heights Police Lieutenant James Sears, Jessica delivers a law enforcement safety program from the point of view of the victim, which provides unforgettable insights. Her long-standing partnership with the Chesterfield County Police Department, as well as other driver education and safety entities, has seen her presentation reach different regions of the nation.
Jessica has partnered with the Association of Law Enforcement Emergency Response Trainers (ALERT), an international organization devoted to the development and implementation of ongoing training relative to law enforcement emergency vehicle operation. In August 2010, ALERT invited Jessica to Indiana to produce a video version of her presentation. The video is available to all ALERT members and currently is used in numerous law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada.
Her commitment to safety for all motorists and pedestrians, and the educational awareness that the presentation brings has caused recruits, officers, and others in law enforcement to become more aware of how they drive, even in emergency circumstances. By raising the awareness of police officers, she has no doubt saved the lives of others through her message of safety. Since the program's inception, she has taught more than 8,400 law enforcement officers, as well as 355 high school aged criminal justice students. She has travelled to agencies throughout Virginia, Oklahoma and Georgia. The effectiveness of the program has seen her partner with the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration to get compact discs of the presentation distributed to law enforcement academies across the country. In 2012, Jessica was recognized for her efforts with the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement.
By the end of 2017, more than 10,000 law enforcement officers and recruits will have been touched by Jessica's presentation. This contribution to the safety of public servants and the communities that they serve cannot be understated. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death and injury for law enforcement. Through her gripping presentation, diligent efforts, and concern for traffic safety, Jessica Sears Younce has been lowering that risk. and is commended for her contributions.
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The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation (www.vachiefs.org) is a statewide charitable organization of federal, state and local police chiefs and other law enforcement executives dedicated to improving the professionalism of police agencies in Virginia and to providing training and education programs for law enforcement executives. The Association was founded in 1926 and has more than 600 members.
Photos are available at http://photos.vachiefs.org/VACP-Conferences/2017-VACP-Annual-Conference/
Photographer: Erin Schrad, VACP
Contact: Ms. Dana Schrad, Executive Director
Mobile: (804) 338-9512 • Email: {encode=dana@vachiefs.org}
