Eight Abbotsford Police officers have been recognized for their work in reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road in 2020.
The officers have been named as members of Alexa’s Team, named for Alexa Middelaer, who was killed by an impaired driver in 2008 when she was four years old.
The team consists of RCMP and municipal officers committed to reducing the number of impaired-driving deaths in B.C.
Officers must complete a minimum of 12 impaired-driving investigations in a year in order to qualify for the team.
“All-Star” status is achieved with a minimum of 25 impaired investigations.
Investigations must result in criminal charges and/or a 90-day driving prohibition.
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In addition to these qualifying impaired investigations, team members also issue many 24-hour, three-day and seven-day driving prohibitions.
The Abbotsford officers named to the team are: constables Kim Jones (All Star), Ryan Clary, Jenni Richter, Sunny Gill, Leisa Shea, Pete Quaglia, Paul Walker and Phil Sawatsky.
Deputy Chief Const. Brett Crosby-Jones said the Abbotsford team removed a combined 246 impaired drivers from local roads in 2020.
“Improving road safety has always been a top goal of the Abbotsford Police Department. Unfortunately, as we all know, impaired driving can have fatal and life-changing consequences … With each stop, our community became that much safer for all of us,” he said.
Alexa’s Team has grown from 20 officers in 2009 to almost 3,000 new and returning officers across B.C. this year.
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