STATE OF DELAWARE

OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY (OHS)

P.O. BOX 1321

DOVER, DELAWARE 19903-1321

302-672-7642

www.ohs.delaware.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:                March 22, 2017

Contact:            Jana Simpler, Director

Office:              302-744-2745

Email:               jana.simpler@delaware.gov

NEWS RELEASE

Delaware Office of Highway Safety hosts DUI Enforcement Awards

Recognition given to law enforcement officers across the state for their efforts

(Dover, DE) – 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 21^st 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

1. 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

For more information on the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and to stay up-to-date on news and announcements, follow OHS on Twitter – @DEHighwaySafe. For regular updates on all social media channels go to Facebook – ArriveAliveDE, Twitter – @DEHighwaySafe, and Instagram – @DEHighwaySafe, websites www.ohs.delaware.gov and http://www.arrivealivede.com/.

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