Mayor Bill Finch and Police Chief Joe Gaudett handle the voiceover work for a back-to-school radio campaign, according to a news release from the mayor’s Communications Director Brett Broesder. The radio campaign is airing on WICC and WEBE 108.
As many kids head back to school this week, the City of Bridgeport is launching a radio ad that highlights safety tips for kids and parents. The radio ad has a specific focus on pedestrian and driver safety.
“As a dad, and as mayor of our state’s largest city, I know how important it is for kids to be safe while they’re walking or taking the bus to and from school,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “That’s why we’re urging parents to remind their kids to be extra cautious when walking to and from school. Make sure they pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards. Let’s arrive early to the bus stop, and make sure that our kids wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street.”
Listen to the radio ad: bit.ly/1vgVE8T.
According to the National Safety Council, approximately 5,900 pedestrians are killed by automobiles in the United States every year. And, nearly one-quarter of these victims are children under the age of 15 years old (Link: bit.ly/1vgUqKE).
“As your police chief, I’m well aware of how important it is for adults to drive safely, especially around schools that are now back in session,” said Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph Gaudett. “We’re urging drivers to be watchful around schools and bus stops for children running in to the street. And, to watch your speed when entering a school zone.”
For the ages of 14 and younger, an average of three kids were killed–and another 462 were injured–every single day in the United States in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Link: 1.usa.gov/1p6aZAD).
“Please do your part to ensure the safety and security of our kids,” said Police Chief Gaudett.
Lennie,
I understand you are the person who titles each of the OIB offerings. But getting TIPS on public safety from the Mayor and Police Chief intrigued me. Let me explain.
The Mayor lives in Bridgeport 24/7 and is paid a salary for his actions on behalf of the public. There are more than 140,000 other people who live here. They have eyes that see. They have ears that listen. They have minds that process, recall and reflect. They have open hearts that will help their neighbors and neighborhoods if they can (without compromising their own safety).
Why not provide the whole community with a challenge on public participation in public safety? It’s possible. There are technology possibilities the Mayor and Chief know about but fail to sponsor. There is a very low-tech program with which they are also familiar called TIPS (Trustworthy Information for Public Safety) that neither has sought to embrace, communicate or otherwise support. Interesting, isn’t it?
When you are aware of better ways, and safe or foolproof ways to provide anonymity to public reporters yet still provide info to the police on safety issues, drugs, gangs, violence, etc., why not employ them instead of saying as Chief Gaudett does: “Please do your part to ensure the safety and security of our kids.” Chief Gaudett is a nice guy, but he lives out of town though his income is earned here.
Mayor and Chief, why don’t each of you use everything you know, skip the use of PR persons because it’s not complicated, and mean it when you want the public to participate? Are you afraid the public might find strength in participation? And then where would leadership be? (Me, I’m just doing my part in writing here as you probably know. And I think most folks whom I listen to would love to help, safely and anonymously, with public safety process.) Time will tell.