RCMP. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press file)

Penticton cops awarded for impaired driving investigations

Award recognizes 'extraordinary contributions' in reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road

  • Dec. 2, 2020 12:00 a.m.

Three Penticton police officers have received an Alexa Award for their work in reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road.

The Alexa Team program recognizes RCMP and municipal police officers in B.C. who make an “extraordinary contribution to reducing the number of impaired drivers” on the road.

READ MORE: Impaired driver rolls vehicle in violent crash near Oliver

To be nominated for the Alexa’s Team, officers must have removed at least 12 impaired drivers from the road in the previous calendar year through a criminal charge investigation or an immediate roadside prohibition (IRP) administrative process, in addition to issuing administrative driving prohibitions, IRP Fails, and IRP Refusals.

“The Penticton RCMP wishes to congratulate Cst. Brad Caruso, Cst. Chris Hipolito and Cst. Ryan Creasey, who all received the Alexa Award for their commitment to impaired driving investigations in 2019,” reads a news release from the RCMP issued Wednesday (Dec. 2).

The recognition program is named in honour of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, who was killed by an impaired driver 12 years ago in Delta.

“Impaired driving is a totally preventable offence, yet many people in our province continue to be killed or injured by it every year,” said Penticton RCMP Const. James Grandy. “By outstanding efforts in enforcement and education, the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional Detachment is committed to helping reduce this number of tragic death and injuries.”

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