Sgt. Matthew White, Coordinator
Gary Bulinski, Assistant
P.O. Box 16
138 North Court Street, Bldg. #7
Wampsville, NY 13163
315-366-2318
315-366-2286
2024 Victim Impact Panel Schedule (subject to change)
Tuesday, February 6
Thursday, April 11
Monday, June 10
Tuesday, August 6
Wednesday, October 9
Monday, December 9
The Victim Impact Panel presentation is a live virtual instructor led Zoom class on specific dates every other month from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.
Participation
Madison County Students Learn to “Hang Up & Drive”
with Jacy Good & Steve Johnson
During the week of January 13th, 2020, approximately 1,500 high school students in eight districts from Madison County were fortunate to hear Jacy Good and Steve Johnson, public speakers and advocates for phone-free roads. Phones are claiming 15 lives per day on United States roadways and injuring more than 1,000 lives every day. It is time to reduce those numbers.
Jacy and Steve told their story in a light-hearted and at the same time powerful way. Students and staff were engaged in the story and had a chance to ask them questions. Each student and staff who had the opportunity to hear the message walked away understanding the importance of not being a distracted driver. Jacy and Steve mentioned impaired driving and how anything that takes their attention from the road way makes them distracted including alcohol, drugs, extra passengers, cell phone, etc. They empowered students at the end by reminding them that they are responsible for what is happening in their lives and to be sure they are making good choices. As Jacy and Steve tell each group, “we all have the power to save lives, make the right decisions”.
Chittenango and Oneida High School Health Classes were given the opportunity to hear about the dangers of using alcohol, marijuana, narcotics, and/or other drugs. Students heard from Trooper Knapp, who has 30 years of experience between his work as a New York State Police and EMT, about what he has seen as consequences of these substances. He utilized K9 Scotty for a detection demonstration and taught the students about the process of detecting various drugs, searching for missing persons, and detecting explosives. Trooper Knapp emphasized how impairment behind the wheel can be due to alcohol or any other drugs and how he has seen the firsthand impact on the families and communities.
WMCR Interviews STOP DWI
Sgt. Matthew White, STOP DWI Coordinator, and Jennifer Cottet, STOP DWI Prevention Education Specialist were invited in by WMCR for a radio interview. Jen and Sgt. White talked about the serious issues related to driving impaired and how it pertains to Madison County. Statistics concerning driving while impaired in our area are discussed as well as how law enforcement agencies work together to crackdown on DWIs at peak times. Jen also talks about various outreach efforts in the community she has organized to raise awareness.
Listen to the full interview here https://wmcramfm.com/archive-of-shows-podcast/.
In an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk and impaired driving, SUNY Morrisville men’s ice hockey team partnered with Madison County’s STOP DWI Program for the second year in a row and dedicated the night to the cause.
The game started with a ceremonial puck drop to honor Kane Buss, a 2013 graduate of Oneida High School was killed by a drunk driver in January 2015. Buss was an aspiring law enforcement student.
Dalton Buss, Kane’s brother, was accompanied by Mike and Claudette Buss, his fiancé Morgan Simmons, extended family, and close friends to honor him throughout the night. Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Sergeant Matthew White, Chief of University Police PaulField, SUNY Morrisville President David Rogers, and Jackson Peters escorted Dalton to the ice.
As supporters entered the game, they were given a stress ball hockey puck with the STOP DWI logo, provided by the STOP DWI program as a reminder not to drive under the influence. There was a great deal of support for the Mustangs and the Buss family from the crowd of more than 250, which families from 4H, student athletes, parents of players, Boy Scouts, law enforcement, and community members.
During the first intermission fans were selected to enter the ice to participate in a puck shoot with the “fatal vision” goggles—blurred-vision eyewear that demonstrated how impairment by drugs or alcohol affects a driver’s ability. Throughout the night, fanswere reminded through PSAs to not drive under the influence and to always have a plan to get home safe.
To end the night, all were welcome to skate with the team and get autographs from the players on the team photograph. “It’s one of my favorite parts of theevent to see the team come together with the community for such an important cause,” said STOP DWI Prevention Education Specialist, Jennifer Cottet. “The joy on everyone’s face is a true reflection of why nobody should take the risk of getting behind the wheelimpaired.”
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to have a safe-driving plan this weekend, as there will be heightened patrols for the Superbowl Crackdown.
Some people use the term “Blackout Wednesday” to describe the day before Thanksgiving as it has become one of the largest drinking nights of the year. It is one of the busiest bar nights across the country and especially in Central New York. As a result, DUIs and DWIs continue to be of concern to many.
The Utica Comets hosted the Syracuse Crunch at home in the Adirondack Bank Stadium on the night before Thanksgiving and focused special attention on stopping DWI. STOP DWI Programs from Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer County were represented to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. With a full house, fans enjoyed hockey and received safety messages to get them thinking about their plan to get home safely. Banners were displayed around the concourse, bathrooms had STOP DWI stickers placed on the mirrors, police cars were displayed outside, and STOP DWI stress hockey pucks were given to the first fans through the door. An educational table was set up where fans had the chance to win a Comets jersey by answering a question regarding driving under the influence. Madison County STOP DWI Prevention Education Specialist, Jennifer Cottet, and Oneida County STOP DWI Coordinator, Ed Stevens, asked fans questions and provided handouts as a reminder to drive sober. Alongside them was Alliance who offered a driving simulator where virtual reality gave fans the opportunity to see their ability while impaired.
Oneida County Sheriff Maciol, Madison County Sheriff Hood, and Herkimer County Legislator John Stephens escorted Dalton Buss to the ice for the puck drop ceremony to honor his brother, Kane Buss. Kane, a 2013 graduate of Oneida High School, was killed by a drunk driver in January 2015. Buss was an aspiring law enforcement student. Mike and Claudette Buss were in attendance for the game and watched as their son dropped the puck. Fans saw various PSAs throughout the night regarding drinking while driving from the Sheriffs from Madison and Oneida County.
Comets took the night with a 4-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch. Madison County Coordinator, Sgt. Matthew White, said “Drinking and driving is illegal and a serious issue, that is why we are here tonight. Have a plan to get home safe and enjoy your weekend.”
Students had the opportunity mingle with the New York State University Police at SUNY Morrisville while enjoying a bowl of ice cream together. Students were walked through a series of sobriety tests that would be done on the roadside to educate them about standard processes. Jennifer Cottet, Prevention Education Specialist, and Sgt. Matthew White, STOP DWI Coordinator, had an educational table set up to teach the students the consequences of driving under the influence. Students were asked to answer a question and received free STOP DWI chotskies as a reminder to not drive under the influence. AT & T participated and allowed students to experience distracted driving through virtual reality.
DeRuyter Central School and Cazenovia High School students and parents were given the opportunity to hear Marianne Angellilo’s story to learn about the dangers of drinking and driving through the story of her son. Stockbridge Valley High School, Canastota High School, and Holy Cross Academy had the opportunity to hear Karen Torres tell her personal story of the dangers of distracted driving. Students felt the impact these stories had in their lives and were able to ask questions at the end.
High school student leaders from Madison County were invited to attend the 2019 Youth Leadership Conference on Thursday, October 3rd, sponsored by Madison County STOP DWI. Madison County was represented by student representatives and advisors from Canastota, Cazenovia, Chittenango, DeRuyter, Hamilton, Holy Cross, Madison and Oneida Schools Districts.
Mr. Shaun Derik presented a dynamic speech “Dreams & Detours” with the powerful message to never give up. Through comedy, music, and dance he taught students and inspired them to never give up on their dreams, regardless of the challenges they are faced with. He told personal experiences to connect with students and help them understand success is not an accident but success takes work and is achieved with purpose.
Once Derik was finished, students were empowered by Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood as he shared his commitment to the STOP DWI program. He told the students how much he believes they can make a positive difference in their schools and communities. To follow, the students engaged in various activities to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping, tobacco use, marijuana use, and driving while impaired. They were given the chance to plan for their school year and collaborate with other schools for ideas to implement in their own schools.
“The purpose of this conference was to help the students understand they have the power to achieve their dreams, regardless of all of the pressures around them”, said Jennifer Cottet, STOP DWI Prevention Education Specialist for Madison County. Reality Check provided tshirts with the message “#DITCHJUUL” to each student to give the students a platform to make a difference on the upcoming effort on Wednesday, October 9th to reduce the number of students juuling and vaping. Reality Check works to reduce youth exposure to tobacco marketing in stores and on screen. They also educate communities about the benefits of tobacco free housing and outdoor spaces.
Madison County’s STOP DWI Program organized a STOP DWI Prevention Bowl alongside the Tri-Valley Warriors football team in Oneida. The game was dedicated to Kane Buss and his family, in remembrance of him. Kane was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2015. He was an aspiring law enforcement officer and loved football. Each person who attended, including the players received bracelets that say “#KB31” and “STOP DWI Madison County”.
To kick off the game, Sheriff Todd Hood told the story of Kane and how it has impacted the community. He reminded each of the players not to drive under the influence of anything. The team presented a jersey to the Buss family that was signed by each of them to honor Kane. Dalton Buss did the coin flip in honor of his brother along with Sheriff Todd Hood, Sgt. Matthew White, and representatives from Oneida Police Department. Throughout the night, the crowd heard different statistics about drinking and driving over the PA. One life taken is one too many, have a plan to get home safe.
The schools in the County conducted mock crashes prior to prom. They were given the opportunity to hear from police officers, firefighters, first responders, and coroners after the event to hear the perspective when someone has to report to the scene of an accident. Two liquor stores donated brown paper bags for the students to sticker with STOP DWI messaging. The students talked about the decisions they would be making on prom weekend and how this small effort will make a difference in their community.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and the STOP DWI Program in Madison County partnered with multiple businesses in the community to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired. Businesses who took part in the efforts included NYE Ford, University Dodge, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Board of Elections, the County Clerk’s Office and HIPstir Café. Oneida City Fire Department and Police Department participated by continuing their strong enforcement and dedication to keeping the community safe. In addition, Kane Buss’s family and friends recorded videos and shared their story of loss. They reminded those who viewed to think about Kane before they get behind the wheel. In addition, STOP DWI Madison County took part in the Health Fair at SUNY Morrisville with the Nursing Students to raise awareness about drunk and impaired driving. The attendees participated in field sobriety tests with the University Police and answered questions regarding DWI to remind them about safe driving practices.
For the month of April, NYE Ford in Oneida and University Dodge in Hamilton will be running a campaign in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month through STOP DWI Madison County. Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood was impressed by the effort in Hamilton last year through the Hamilton Area Community Coalition and thought it would be wise to bring the effort around the county further. With each car sold, the sales representative or manager will place a STOP DWI Promo Goody Bag in each car prior to giving the new owner the keys. Each person who buys a new car will be told why the dealership is participating and remind them of the consequences of driving while impaired. Cars serviced throughout the month will receive a lanyard or keychain when they receive their keys back at University Dodge as another reminder not to drink and drive. Informational materials regarding DWI and Drug-Impaired Driving have been placed throughout the dealership for customers to read as they wait.
Police Chiefs from all of Madison County were invited to participate and help kick off the event at NYE Ford in Oneida. Many came to show their support and dedication to the cause. Law enforcement and first responders are on the front lines every day and would like to remind people not to drive under the influence because they have reported to many tragedies and have seen the impact. Remember to have a safe and sober plan to get home safe if you choose to drink. Sales representatives and managers were asked to give a bag to each new car owner and explain the purpose of the giveaways to the customer to raise more awareness around the driving while under the influence.
New York’s STOP-DWI program is the Nations’ first and, to date, only self-sustaining impaired driving program. Other States have implemented components of self-sufficiency, but none to the degree of New York State.
