CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Pratt Police Chief Eric Eagle has received the West Virginia LifeSavers organization's top performer of the year award.

Eagle was given the award at the organization's annual banquet in Beckley last month.

West Virginia LifeSavers is an organization of about 1,000 police officers, state troopers and sheriff's deputies from more than 130 law enforcement agencies around the state. The group was formed to push for the use of seat belts by all drivers and passengers.

According to the organization's Web site, www.wvlifesavers.com, members believe pressure from the organization is responsible for pushing average seat belt use in West Virginia above 89 percent of drivers and passengers.

Eagle said he was given the award for aggressively enforcing and encouraging seat belt use in and around Pratt.

"I had the most activity of any of the police chiefs in the program," he said.

Eagle said he developed seat-belt education programs, organized seat-belt checkpoints and helped coordinate checkpoints with police departments in Pratt and surrounding communities.

"Highway safety is not just a big-city problem," he said.

State law requires all drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts, and requires seat belts for all back-seat passengers under 18. Small children are also required to ride in safety seats or seat boosters under state law.

Eagle said he has also recently organized a program to provide free bicycle helmets to local children. State law requires helmet use for all kids on bikes.

"If I'm driving around and see a kid on a bike without a helmet, I'll give them one," he said. Helmets are also available at the Pratt police station.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

Eagle was given the award at the organization's annual banquet in Beckley last month.

West Virginia LifeSavers is an organization of about 1,000 police officers, state troopers and sheriff's deputies from more than 130 law enforcement agencies around the state. The group was formed to push for the use of seat belts by all drivers and passengers.

According to the organization's Web site, www.wvlifesavers.com, members believe pressure from the organization is responsible for pushing average seat belt use in West Virginia above 89 percent of drivers and passengers.

Eagle said he was given the award for aggressively enforcing and encouraging seat belt use in and around Pratt.

"I had the most activity of any of the police chiefs in the program," he said.

Eagle said he developed seat-belt education programs, organized seat-belt checkpoints and helped coordinate checkpoints with police departments in Pratt and surrounding communities.

"Highway safety is not just a big-city problem," he said.

State law requires all drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts, and requires seat belts for all back-seat passengers under 18. Small children are also required to ride in safety seats or seat boosters under state law.

Eagle said he has also recently organized a program to provide free bicycle helmets to local children. State law requires helmet use for all kids on bikes.

"If I'm driving around and see a kid on a bike without a helmet, I'll give them one," he said. Helmets are also available at the Pratt police station.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.