Law enforcement honored for DUI prevention

EPHRATA - Law enforcement personnel tasked with keeping impaired drivers off roadways in Grant and Adams counties took time out for a little recognition.

Dozens of emergency workers and their families gathered Friday night at the Ephrata City Council Chambers for the 21st annual Night of 1,000 Stars. It is a statewide campaign dedicated to fallen officers across Washington who died in the line of duty as well as officers who continue to protect and serve, according to Ephrata Police Chief Mike Warren.

Warren introduced the ceremony by explaining each star symbolizes the badge worn by officers working to prevent impaired driving.

"In the Grant County area we continue to aggressively target impaired driving and it shows in the number of alcohol related collisions," Warren said.

In 2009 there were 137 alcohol related collisions in Grant County, Warren said, a number that went down to 114 in 2010.

"Although this is a good trend, one citizen injured or killed by an impaired driver is one too many," he said.

As evidence of the impact drunk driving can have on a family, Tina and David Lambert shared the story of their granddaughter, a 2-year-old killed by a drunk driver in January of 2009 near Soap Lake.

"We're here to say thank you from those who are involved in the aftermath," David Lambert said. "We're grateful for you who are out there making the effort you've made so the other families don't have to go through what we did."

Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Sands, the director of the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force, briefly spoke on the importance of DUI emphasis patrols in helping prevent future tragedies.

"One second is all it takes for that distracted, that careless, that reckless driver to blow a stop sign and ruin someone's day," Sands said. "One second is all it takes for a DUI to cross over into the oncoming lane and plow into another car. One second is all it takes to drastically change a life, forever."

The following law enforcement personnel were honored for participating in traffic safety task force activities and for having the highest numbers of DUI arrests in their individual agencies:

Adams County sheriff's deputy Ryan Haring; Grant County sheriff's deputy Jason Ball, Grant County sheriff's motor traffic deputy Tyson Voss; Moses Lake police officer Juan Serrato; Quincy police officer Ernie Senseny; Ephrata police officer Ryan Harvey; Othello police officer Sean Anderson; Royal City police officer Rey Rodriguez; Warden police officer Mike Martin; Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Kottong and Washington State Patrol trooper Tim Kron.

The following individuals were recognized for their DUI education efforts:

Carolyn Pence, Prevention and Recovery Center; Theresa Fuller, Grant County Health District; Ryann Leonard, Big Bend Community College; Othello Police Sgt. Nels Larson; Quincy Police Officer Jorge Trujillo; Moses Lake Police Officer Kyle McCain; Ephrata Police Officer Ryan Harvey; Grant County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Sanchez; Barbie Maier, Washington State Patrol; Leonard Johnson, Grant County Fire District 5; Todd Schanze, Moses Lake Fire Department; Nancy Schanze, Moses Lake Fire Department volunteer; Grant County Sheriff's Office drug recognition expert Sgt. Josh Sainsbury and Washington State Patrol drug recognition expert Ryan Raymond.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Kron was recognized for having 63 DUI arrests, the highest number in the task force, and Trooper Raymond had the second highest number, with 58 arrests.

Participating agencies included the Washington State Patrol, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Adams County Sheriff's Office, Moses Lake Police Department, Ephrata Police Department, Quincy Police Department, Warden Police Department, Royal City Police Department and Othello Police Department.