Announced Monday, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute presented 66 Indiana law enforcement officers with the state’s first-ever Traffic Safety All-Star award.
To be named a Traffic Safety All-Star, the officer must have made at least 20 OWI arrests during the previous year and participated in one of the state’s targeted enforcement campaigns, like Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Locally Trent Stouder from the Bremen Police Department made 24 OWI arrests while Jerrid Arnold from the Plymouth Police Department made 40 OWI arrests.
“These officers are setting the example and working overtime to put a stop to impaired driving in Indiana,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “It was a tremendous honor to be able to recognize their efforts to protect families and road users across the state.”
Every day, almost 30 people in the U.S. die in drunk-driving crashes. That’s an average of one person approximately every 50 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Indiana, there were 106 people killed in alcohol-impaired collisions last year, representing 13 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities.
The Traffic Safety All-Star awards program was created by ICJI as a way to recognize law enforcement officers who are going above and beyond to keep road users and their communities safe by working to combat impaired driving.
Combined, the 66 officers who received the inaugural award totaled more than 3,000 OWI arrests in 2019.
“What’s important to consider when you look at that number is the amount of lives that were saved as a result of these officers,” said Robert Duckworth, ICJI Traffic Safety Director. “Communities are safer, and people are alive today because of their efforts.”
In addition to the Traffic Safety All-Star awards, two leadership awards were presented to Eric Massey, with the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Captain Erv Faulk, with Indiana State Police, for their longstanding efforts to curb impaired driving.
These recipients, along with the Traffic Safety All-Stars, were recognized at a ceremony, hosted by the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field.
“Law enforcement officers go above and beyond to keep our Indiana communities safe, and the positive work they provide – especially on our roadways – is often overlooked,” said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians President & General Manager. “We are thankful for the everyday efforts put forth by officers to save lives and were honored to recognize 66 Traffic Safety All-Stars at Victory Field.”
