CCSO Awarded For Teen "Drive With A Cop" Program

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR — If you think learning to drive can be stressful, try learning to drive with a cop sitting next you. It may sound like a quick way to traumatize a young, inexperienced driver, but in Clackamas County the program works — and national organizations are taking notice.

For its proactive, innovative approach to driver's education, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was recently given an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its annual "Drive with a Cop" event, held annually during National Teen Driver Safety Week in October.

For "Drive with a Cop," Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies team up with teens learning to drive for a week of driving instruction at the Portland International Raceway. There, the students learn about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving not just from law enforcement but also from families who've lost loved ones in crashes connected to teen drivers.

“Counties seize opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and build stronger communities every day," NACo President Roy Charles Brooks said in a statement. "Achievement Award-winning programs are examples for counties that are determined to enhance services for our residents.”

According to Clackamas County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brian Jensen, the Achievement Award is just one of 18 different categorized awards offered by NACo. Other categories include children and youth-focused programs, criminal justice, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and more.

"Car crashes are a leading killer of young people nationwide," Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said. “We are honored to receive the NACO Award for our efforts to reduce teen fatalities on the road.”

This year's "Drive with a Cop" will be held Oct. 20.

For more information on the program, as well as details on how to get involved, visit Clackamas.us/Sheriff/DrivewithaCop.

Image and video via Clackamas County Sheriff's Office