Community Services Officer (CSO)
Ptlm. Matthew Cyr
Email:
macyr@town.windham.me.us
Ptlm. Cyr is a native of Millinocket, ME. He has been with the
Department since
08-14-95. He is working towards his Associates in Applied Science
for Law Enforcement Technology.
He worked in Patrol until he was assigned as the
Community Services Officer on
08-01-98. He is one of the departments Bicycle
Officers.
He is recognized as one of the leaders in the development
of Skate Board Parks in the New England area.
The Community Service Officer (CSO), Ptlm. Matthew Cyr, is afforded the unique opportunity for an officer to develop and participate in programs that directly influence the citizens of Windham in a more positive way. Law Enforcement can be much more than re-active, but pro-active in the prevention of crime.
This position provides the opportunity for interaction with citizens to develop programs and educate them on safety and the prevention of crime. These programs include Child Passenger Saftey, Child Seat Safety Technician, Neighborhood Watch, D.A.R.E., Dare Middle School Program, Dare to Adventure, and development of the Skate Board Park . Other websites of interest: projectknow.com and The Cool Spot, Netsmartz.org
Programs are presented to various community groups on Women's Safety, Violence in the Workplace and presentations for all of the above aforementioned programs, as requested.
The Maine Chiefs of Police Association in cooperation with the Maine Community Policing Safety Center developed the Windham Police Departments web page for the Community Safety Center. This web page provides information on various subjects, so you can link to the home page or to one of the links of your interest below.
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The CSO also participates in numerous community committees, is involved
with the Windham School System, and has a close working relationship with the Windham
Parks and Recreation Department and assist them with several of their programs.
The Windham Skate Board Park is a result of this working relationship between these departments. For example the first summer was a tremendous success and the Skate Board Park was relocated beside the Windham Public Safety Building. This couldn't have been done without the assistance of The Windham Town Council, volunteer workers, companies and organizations who donated the materials and funds. This is a superb example of how cooperation among the community and Town organizations has created a positive relationship among the youth living here.
If you would like more information on any
of the following, or would like to have a presentation for your community group, please
contact Officer Matthew Cyr at the Windham Police Department. Officer Cyr is willing to
speak about any topic that you feel he can assist you or your group with in the area of
crime prevention.
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 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration |
JANUARY 1 st, 2003 1. Children under 40 pounds.
When a child who weighs less than 40 pounds is being transported in a motor vehicle that is required by the Unites States Department of Transportation to be equipped with safety seat belts, the operator must have the child properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in a child safety seat.
2.
Passengers less than 18 years of age (YOA).
A. The operator shall ensure that a child who weighs at least 40 pounds, but less than 80
pounds and who is less than 8 YOA is properly secured in a federally approved
child restraint system. (A restraint system that is designed to elevate a child to enable
that child to properly sit in a lap and shoulder belt system, which is commonly referred
to as a booster seat.)
B. The operator shall ensure that a child who is less than 18 YOA and at least 8 YOA or who is less than 18 YOA and more than 4 feet, 7 inches in height is properly secured in a seat belt unless that child is required to be secured in a federally approved child restraint system pursuant to this subsection or in a child safety seat pursuant to section 1 above.
C. The operator shall ensure that a child who is less than 12 YOA and who weighs less than 100 pounds is properly secured in the rear seat of a vehicle, if possible.
The purpose of this law change is due to the fact that the majority of seat belts in vehicles are designed for people over 4’8" and 100 lbs. The booster seat effectively raises the child so that the seat belt properly secures the child in the event of a crash.
Why are child safety seats and child restraint systems required?
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children from ages 4-14.
- Most vehicle restraint systems (seat belts) are designed for people over 4’8" tall.
- Almost 800 children under 15 years old are injured or maimed in motor vehicle crashes every day (Year 2000 statistics).
Why should I have my child seat checked by a Child Safety Seat Technician(CSST)?
- 82 % of child safety seats are misused in some way.
- 8 out of 10 child safety seats are improperly installed.
- As children grow, they should progress through three types of child safety seats, rear facing seats to forward facing seats to booster seats, before using the seat belt by itself.
- Many seats are subject to recalls and a CSST will have current recall lists
Never place your child in front of an air bag. The best practice recommendation for child placement in a vehicle is in the back seat as near to the middle of the vehicle as possible IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT!
Never use a used child safety seat unless you are 100% sure that it has not been dropped or involved in a crash.
If you would like to have your child safety seat checked by a CCST please contact Ptlm. Matthew Cyr or Fire Police Lloyd Murphy at the public safety building.
For more information check out these links:; www.buckleupamerica.org
or www.nhtsa.dot.gov
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