Officers Sachiko Shimada and Akira Tokashiki received a certificate of appreciation after working with the Marine Corps Base Installation Safety Office to provide information for more than 8,000 Marines, Department of Defense employed civilians and their spouses during the 2010 Critical Days of Summer briefings.
In May, Shimada and Tokashiki assisted the safety office in 19 safety presentations for Marines from all major camps by explaining the differences between driving procedures in Japan and the U.S.
"The idea [of the seminar] came up when the superintendent of the Okinawa Prefectural Police and top U.S. military officials had discussions," said Hideyuki Kitagawa, director of the traffic department, Okinawa Prefectural Police Headquarters. "It is our great pleasure that we could give the seminar to 8,000 service members."
This was the first year the Okinawa police participated in the critical days of summer campaign, said Shawn M. Curtis, deputy safety director for Marine Corps Bases Japan.
"It's always appreciated when we have an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with local agencies," said Curtis.
During the seminar, the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department provided Marines with information about alcohol checkpoints and the procedures that must be completed after being stopped, according to Curtis.
The officers also provided Marines insight on their obligations if they are involved in driving accidents.
"We emphasized that in case of an accident, notification to the police is obligatory even when no one is injured," said Kitagawa. "If someone is injured, rescuing the injured is obligatory."
Shimada said he believed the presentation was well received overall.
Three-hundred Marines who attended the seminar were surveyed and 90% answered that it was useful, Shimada said.
Cpl. William Welch, air operations chief for Marine Corps Bases Japan, was especially impressed by the seminar.
"It was really informative," said Welch. "It was really nice to have the Japanese police talk to the Marines. It was good to hear their point of view."
The Okinawa Prefectural Police Department intends to continue their seminars for the Marines and want to eventually include all military personnel in Okinawa.
"The seminar was given only to Marines this time, but we would like to expand the scope to cover the other branches," said Kitagawa. "It is important to educate service members about safety because the Japanese laws and the U.S. laws are different."
After the awards ceremony, Curtis and the other officers discussed future plans and relationships between Marine Corps Bases Japan and the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department.