J. Stannard Baker Award Winner

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Northwestern University, OnStar, and NSA are proud to present the 2012 J. Stannard Baker Award for Traffic Safety.Sheriff John Whetsel, Chairman of NSA’s Traffic Safety Committee, Roy Lucky, Northwestern University, and George Baker, Public Safety Outreach Manager for On-Star made the presentation.

 

Sheriff Dwight Radcliff, Pickaway County, Ohio, is this year’s recipient.  

 

Sheriff Dwight Radcliff is no stranger to traffic safety. He has served in his current capacity as the longest serving Sheriff in the nation for the past 48 consecutive years. He is a member of the Traffic Safety Committee and the Crime Prevention/Private Security Committee. His contributions to our Association have been constant, varied and invaluable.

 

In 1964, when Dwight became Sheriff of Pickaway County, there were no radios, computers or seat belts in his cruisers. His total budget was less than $100,000 and his total staff numbered 11 with 3 patrol cars.

 

Today, Sheriff Radcliff’s current budget is $6 million, he has a staff of over 110 personnel and a fleet of 30 vehicles.

 

The Sheriff’s Office has been on the leading edge of technology with the addition of onboard computers in the patrol cars, giving them the ability to check driver’s status, wants and warrants along with accurate identification to include criminal history, helping to provide a safer environment for patrol officers. 

 

There are few sheriffs who share Sheriff Radcliff’s passion for Traffic Safety and the role of sheriffs in its enforcement. He has worked closely with staff liaisons, Clay Hall, David Seiler, and Wilfrid Price of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and members of the Northwestern Traffic Institute to increase the interest of sheriffs in traffic safety.

 

He has seen the increase of concern for traffic safety as a whole. Through the efforts of the NSA Traffic Safety Committee, numerous traffic related resolutions have been passed supporting projects such as Click-It-Or-Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.