County Executive Steve Bellone Honors Police Officers for Most DWI Arrests

STOP-DWI Program recognizes Twenty-Four Police Officers for Most DWI Arrests in Suffolk County

(Brentwood, NY) – County Executive Bellone was joined by Legislators Hahn, Calarco and Cilmi as well of SCPD Chief James Burke and Sheriff Vincent DeMarco to honor twenty four Suffolk County Police Officers for making the most DWI arrests in Suffolk County.  The prestigious ceremony, held at the Suffolk County Police Academy, honored all the officers and awarded one sheriff with the Top Cop award after making 108 arrests this year.

“These officers have saved hundreds of lives by making DWI a priority and arresting those individuals who make the irresponsible decision to drive drunk,” said County Executive Bellone.  “Suffolk County police agencies made over 5,100 arrests in 2012 and more than 15,000 DWI arrests in the past 3 years.Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways.  We remain committed to arresting anyone who chooses to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car, endangering the lives of others.”

The following officers were honored at the ceremony:

NYS Trooper Michael Grosso Sheriff Gregory Turzer  Officer Kimberleigh McMahon Officer Vincent Rantinella Officer Christopher Drake Officer Peter Onufrak Officer Joseph Slack Officer David Leath

Officer Steven Sheades Officer David Driscoll Officer Steven McManus Officer Timothy Murphy Officer Keith Phillips Officer Gregory Sandbickler Officer Derrick Hall Officer Harry Joss

Officer John Mercuio Officer Robert Verdu Officer Jaime Bustamante Officer Jason Ostrow Officer Brandon Neal Officer Ari Kirsh Officer Roger Kleber Officer John Galvin

Bellone was joined by several advocates from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the ceremony to recognize the valiant efforts of the police officers.

The Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (STOP-DWI) is a comprehensive program specifically designed to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related traffic fatalities and injuries in New York State.  The program is supported by the fines collected from individuals convicted of alcohol-related traffic infractions.