From left (back row) Cst. Dan Eccleston, MADD's Roxanne Engli, Cst. Mike Scherpenisse; (middle) Csts. Patrick Ellis and David Bigcharles; (front) Cpl. Wayne Chung. (Image Credit: Kamloops RCMP)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

IMPAIRED DRIVING

Kamloops officers recognized for life-saving work preventing impaired crashes

May 6, 2021 | 5:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP officers were recently recognized by the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter for their service.

Last month (April 27), MADD Kamloops Community Leader Roxanne Engli paid tribute in a physically-distanced ceremony to 13 officers for their work in preventing deadly impaired crashes.

A release from Kamloops RCMP says the officers collectively stopped at least 156 impaired drivers on a night when they could have killed somebody.

“Good traffic cops and those who take impaired drivers off the road, save more lives than any other unit,” states Kamloops RCMP Superintendent, Sydney Lecky. “They’re very passionate about what they do. I hope it’s something they never get tired of because it means so much to us.”

These members made it on to Alexa’s Team, which is a program that recognizes RCMP and municipal police officers from around BC who demonstrate a commitment to keeping impaired drivers off the roads. The team was named in honour of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, who was killed by an impaired driver in 2008.

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“You represent the extraordinary efforts and commitment police have to reducing impaired driving, preventing deadly crashes, and keeping our roads safe,” said Engli.

To be nominated for Alexa’s Team, members must have taken at least 12 impaired drivers off the road in the previous calendar year.

The 2019 Alexa Team Members recognized by Ms. Engli include:

• Wayne Chung
• Patrick Ellis
• David Bigcharles
• Mike Scherpenisse
• Dan Eccleston
• Mark Richardson
• Matt James
• Paul Koester
• Dawn Gillingham
• Gordon Sauer
• Cody Fisher
• Scott Richards
• Mark Blacklock