Twelve police officers in Port Moody and Coquitlam were recognized this week as members of Alexa's Team for their diligence in removing impaired drivers from Tri-City roads.
In order to receive the recognition an officer must remove at least 12 impaired drivers from the road in the previous calendar through a criminal charges investigation or the new immediate roadside prohibition process.
Last year close to 13,000 impaired drivers were removed from the roads in B.C., ballooning Alexa Team membership from 26 members in 2008 to more than 355 officers in 2011.
Since the program was launched more than 32,000 impaired driving charges or penalties have been handed out to drivers in violation of the law.
"We're proud to be a part of this remarkable initiative that helps get impaired drivers off the road," said Fiona Temple, ICBC director of road safety. "We're committed to road safety to help prevent such tragedies. We want everyone to get to where they're going and return home safely."
The team is named after Alexa Middelaer, who was struck and killed by an impaired driver in 2008 while she stood with her aunt on the side of the road feeding a horse. She was four years old at the time of the incident.
The officers who received the recognition in the Tri-Cities include:
Const. Trevor Doylend
Const. Chris Duncan
Const. Mike Halewood
Const. Davinder Lally
Const. Matt Saikali
Const. Fareez Vellani
Const. George Amoako
Const. Raj Uppal
Const. Victoria Boechler
Const Jennaby Ohashi
Sgt. Manj Kaila
