JEFFERSON, N.C.- Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces that three deputies from the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office are now by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the installation of car safety seats for children. Earlier this month the three deputies, C.J. Spainhour, Steven Marvel and Neill Reynolds, successfully completed the National Child Passenger Safety Certification class hosted by Safe Kids Worldwide.
During this 4-day class the deputies learned how to properly install all types of child safety seats, including rear facing seats, forward facing seats, conversion seats, convertible seats and even booster seats.
With these deputies becoming Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office can now assist residents at community-based and school-based events by performing Child Safety Seat Checks. Following this class we now have two School Resource Officers and one Patrol Deputy certified to assist citizens in installing their child’s car seat or even just inspecting an already-installed car seat for proper installation.
“Of all the things we are entrusted with protecting here in Ashe, at the top of the list is our children,” said Chief Deputy Danny Houck, of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office. “If ensuring that car seats are properly installed helps to save one child’s life or minimize just one injury to one of our kids then this new program will be worth its weight in gold.”
If anyone needs assistance in the proper installation of their child retraint seat please contact the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office at 336-846-5600 to set up an appointment with one of the three deputies who are certified through NHTSA.