WESTBOROUGH — The Westford Police Department received a Gold Award for traffic safety from AAA Northeast during a luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, marking the third consecutive year the department received the recognition.
Officer Collin Breault, Deputy Chief James Peloquin and Capt. Michael Breault attended the AAA Northeast Community Traffic Safety Award luncheon and accepted the award on behalf of the department.
In an announcement posted on social media following the luncheon, the Police Department congratulated the three officers and credited the Westford Fire Department, Public Works Department, Girl Scout troops 70541 and 67541 and the town’s Pedestrian Safety Committee for their continued work to improve road safety.
According to the Police Department, the award recognizes initiatives officers carried out during the previous calendar year (2025) to improve traffic safety throughout Westford. It also reflects the work of other town departments, boards, committees and residents to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“The recognition highlights the dedication, partnerships and collaborative initiatives undertaken by our officers and town partners,” Capt. Breault said in a statement to WestfordCAT. “These efforts include the work of the Pedestrian Safety Committee, Public Works Department, Fire Department and other town entities, all of which play an important role in advancing traffic safety throughout the community.”
Capt. Breault added that this is the third consecutive year the Police Department received the award, as they were also recognized for their work in the 2023 and 2024 calendar years.
According to the Police Department’s application to AAA Northeast, which Capt. Breault shared with WestfordCAT, Westford’s 2025 initiatives included a pedestrian and bicycle safety rodeo hosted in June in partnership with the Pedestrian Safety Committee, Fire Department and Public Works Department. Officers also partnered with local Girl Scouts during the summer to encourage safe biking and walking.
Additionally, officers conducted pedestrian and bicycle safety presentations at elementary and middle schools, preschools and summer camps, providing helmets, reflective gear and educational materials. The Police Department also used social media to promote awareness of speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving and school-zone safety.
Roadway improvements were another component of the application. Public Works installed all-way stops at the intersections of Forge Village Road and Cold Spring Road and Forge Village Road and Town Farm Road in 2025 following an increase in motor vehicle crashes at both locations. The application also cited the town’s work to redesign the Plain Road and Nutting Road intersection and continued construction of sidewalks and a designated bicycle lane along Boston Road.
The Police Department’s work with the Fire Department to provide free car-seat installation services and car seats to families in need, as well as efforts to promote safe driving among older residents and educate students about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, was also highlighted in the application.
Officer Collin Breault, a member of the department’s Patrol Division, was separately named a 2026 Traffic Safety Hero during the luncheon for his traffic enforcement and community outreach efforts in 2025.
According to the application, Officer Breault issued more than 950 citations during 2025 for violations including speeding, hands-free driving violations, seat belt violations and other dangerous driving offenses. He also made 18 proactive arrests for criminal violations, including six operating under the influence of liquor or drugs arrests.
Officer Breault was also recognized for his participation in community events, pedestrian and bicycle safety presentations at local schools and traffic enforcement campaigns targeting speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving.
Rep. Jim Arciero was honored as a Traffic Safety Hero of the Year for his work as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation and his contributions to traffic safety.
Capt. Breault said the Police Department plans to continue working with its community partners and conducting traffic enforcement to improve roadway safety.
“We look forward to continuing these important partnerships, along with our traffic enforcement efforts, to further improve roadway safety and protect all who travel throughout the Town of Westford,” Capt. Breault told WestfordCAT.
