MADD Colorado Honors Law Enforcement for Efforts to Eliminate Drunk Driving and Prevent Underage Drinking

DENVER, Sept. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Colorado, along with its youth volunteers, presented 17 awards to outstanding individuals and teams of Colorado law enforcement officers and agencies who are making a difference in the community, during the 2013 MADD Colorado Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner and Awards Ceremony tonight.

"This is a particularly special event for MADD Colorado," said Christopher Pierce, MADD Colorado State Executive Director. "Not only do we have the privilege of recognizing the lifesaving efforts of Colorado law enforcement officers and agencies, but we also do so with the enthusiasm of our future leaders – our youth volunteers."

The following winners were chosen based on nominations received from various agencies across the state:

• Outstanding Dedication to Occupant Protection – Trooper Lance Sanchez, Colorado State Patrol
• Outstanding Military Dedication to Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving Prevention – Officer Paul Engebretson, Fort Carson Police Patrol Branch
• Outstanding Dedication to School Outreach – Officer Wendy Stogner, Lafayette Police Department
• Outstanding Dedication to Alcohol Compliance Checks – Mr. Brian Turner, Liquor Enforcement Division, Colorado Department of Revenue
• Outstanding Individual Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Small Agency) – Officer Steve Lentz, Fruita Police Department
• Outstanding Individual Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Medium Agency) – Officer Talon Darling, Wheat Ridge Police Department
• Outstanding Individual Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Large Agency) – Officer Ryan Marker, Aurora Police Department
• Outstanding Team Dedication to Minor in Possession/Minor in Consumption Enforcement – Liquor Enforcement Division, Colorado Department of Revenue
• Outstanding Dedication to Sobriety Checkpoints – Officer Dan Swint, Denver Police Department
• Outstanding Team Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Small Agency) – Auraria Police DUI Team
• Outstanding Team Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Medium Agency) – Gore Range DUI Task Force (Avon Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Eagle Police Department, Eagle County Sheriff's Office, Minturn Police Department, and Vail Police Department)
• Outstanding Team Dedication to DUI Enforcement (Large Agency) – Aurora Police DUI Team
• Outstanding Drug Recognition Expert – Corporal John Blea, Denver Police Department
• Outstanding Prosecutor – Deputy District Attorney Peter Frigo, 1^st Judicial District
• MADD Hero Award – Officer James Lovato, Denver Police Department
• Dr. Robert E Weltzer Outstanding Dedication to Traffic Safety and DUI Enforcement – Mr. Glenn Davis, Colorado Department of Transportation
• Col. Mark V. Trostel Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award – Officer David Keech, Grand Junction Police Department

"The Colorado Department of Transportation is so proud of the achievements made by the dedicated law enforcement professionals throughout the state of Colorado," said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. "Whether it's informing parents of the importance of properly restraining children in the car, educating Coloradans on how wearing a seat belt can save their life in a motor vehicle crash or keeping impaired drivers off our roads, the men and women of Colorado's law enforcement are our everyday heroes. We're honored to partner with MADD to give them the recognition they deserve." 

This evening's program was presented by the law firm of Bachus & Schanker, MADD Colorado's 2013 Statewide Sponsor, with additional support from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Ali Meyer Foundation.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP.  Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado