Dover – The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) joined forces with Attorney General Matt Denn, Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security Robert Coupe and MADD National to recognize law enforcement officers across the state for their efforts related to Impaired Driving prevention, leadership and enforcement.
The awards ceremony was held at the Dover Downs Conference Center on March 21st at 9 am. Jana Simpler, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety opened the ceremony by welcoming law enforcement to the Office of Highway Safety’s 2017 Impaired Driving Awards Breakfast and noted that “today is about recognizing and thanking each and every one of the law enforcement present for their efforts in impaired driving enforcement.” Joining Director Simpler to present the awards to law enforcement was Jan Withers, MADD National President Emerita.
Director Simpler stated that “together we achieved some pretty terrific accomplishments in 2016.” OHS provided overtime funding to law enforcement agencies across the state in 2016 for checkpoints and saturation patrols with a focus on impaired driving enforcement. These enforcement efforts contributed to a 10 percent reduction in impaired driving fatal crashes from 2015 to 2016. OHS also supported impaired driving training initiatives for law enforcement in 2016.
OHS coordinated multi-jurisdictional statewide DUI checkpoints several times throughout the year as part of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign. A total of 20 checkpoints were conducted between July and December 2016, resulting in 60 DUI arrests. More than 100 law enforcement officers were sworn in by Attorney General Denn in July 2016 for multi-jurisdictional capabilities to participate in this campaign.
Officers who participated in the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, as well as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) were recognized at the ceremony. A DRE is a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) coordinates the International Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program. Delaware currently has 23 DREs that support law enforcement evaluation needs statewide.
In addition to the Checkpoint Strikeforce participants and Drug Recognition Experts, the following individuals were recognized for their leadership in impaired driving enforcement:
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Leadership and Education Award
CPL/3 Roy K. Bryant, Delaware State Police
Andrew Rubin, Newark Police
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Drug Recognition Expert Award
Corporal Adam Mease, Newark Police Department
Excellence in Impaired Driving Enforcement
Prosecutor Award
Danielle Brennan, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Delaware Department of Justice
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Enforcement and Leadership Award
Patrolman Anthony Smith, Dover Police Department
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Enforcement and Leadership Award
Patrolman Nick Disciullo, Milton Police Department
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Enforcement and Leadership Award
Sergeant Sidney Ballentine, Ocean View Police Department
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Enforcement and Leadership Award
Trooper First Class Mark Ivey, Delaware State Police
Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
Enforcement and Leadership Award
Trooper First Class, Christopher Garcia, Delaware State Police
Source: State Of Delaware
Image Credits: State od Delaware