Safe Communities of North Dakota

 
Explore SafeCommunities.org:

Free Safe Communities Newsletter
Stay informed on the latest Safe Communities news and resources through our free e-newsletter, Perceptions.

Click here to subscribe!
Partner Sites:

North Dakota
Motorcycle Safety Program

North Dakota
Department of Transportation
Fast Facts

In 2005, there were 43,433 total traffic fatalities and of these, 12,945 involved a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater).

More Fast Facts...

Profile on Jeff Balentine

Posted: Apr 28, 2003

Printer-friendly version | bookmark this page | discuss this article in the forums |

Captain Jeff Balentine's street experience as a police officer with the Minot Police Department was all the education and background he needed to prepare him as a coalition member for the Mayor's Council for a Safe Community in Minot. "I encountered or observed many situations that could have been prevented by education", said Balentine. He heard many comments about the needs of safety programs when he talked to citizens and groups as a Crime Prevention Officer.

Captain Balentine was involved in the original formation of the Mayor's Council for Traffic Safety, the predecessor to the current Safe Communities program. He has been involved with the coalition on a continuous basis since it was first developed in the late 1980s. Balentine was also a member of the Governor's DUI Task Force at that time.

Captain Balentine's original expectation when joining the coalition was to increase the public's awareness of safety issues. He believes the program has had an impact on safety belt use and removing the impaired driver from the streets. He is particularly interested in the traffic safety aspect of the Safe Communities coalition.

Balentine's expectations for the future of the Mayor's Council have remained steady from the start - to continue to educate the community on safety choices. He also hopes the coalition can continue to seek grant monies to run safety programs. Personally, he plans to continue to serve as a member of the organization and to give guidance to new officers who join the coalition.

The challenges Balentine sees for the future of the coalition "are like those in any other city - to maintain funding for the program and a director for the coalition." He went on to state that the Mayor's Council for a Safe Community is a great program for the community. "A lot of good public awareness and education comes from this coalition."
[ end of article ]