Police To Air Message

Urging Motorist Safety

By Andrew Gorosko

During the month of August, a public service announcement produced by local police is scheduled to be played about 400 times on various channels on Charter Communications’ local cable television network, including Channel 21, which is the system’s public access channel.

The message dramatizes the potentially tragic consequences of excessive speed.

In the message, police urge motorists to slow down, warning that excessive speed can result in accidents that cause fatalities.

As the scene opens with a rhythmic heartbeat sounding, emergency radio communications radio chatter, and police sirens wailing, a police patrol car pulls up in the driveway of a suburban home and two officers exit, approaching the front door of the residence.

A narrator notes that more than 40,000 people die each year in the US in traffic accidents.

The two officers enter the home and explain to a mother and daughter that a loved one has died in a traffic accident.  

A police sergeant then urges the audience to “please slow down and drive carefully.”

Police Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde and Officer David Kullgren are the officers in the video. Carol Swigart and Mykaela Coughlin play the mother and daughter, respectively.

The video was produced for the police by Jake Siberon.

Sgt Bahamonde explained that the public service announcement is intended to reinforce the police department’s expanded traffic enforcement program. A new traffic enforcement unit began operations on July 1.

The public service announcement may be seen on the Internet on YouTube.com. Viewers should enter the search term: “Newtown CT Police,” and then select the first item displayed in the search.