CONGRATULATIONS TO AWARD WINNERS!

     MADD held its annual awards ceremony, May 17, 2007 at the Miami Sheraton Mart.  Awards were given to more than 125 officers for their excellence and commitment to ending DUI crime, including the educators within Miami-Dade Police Department's Community Affairs Bureau.  We recognized assistant state attorneys (ASAs) including and especially those who are part of the Traffic Homicide Unit as they have chosen to be "on call" and available to police officers for consultation twenty for hours a day, seven days a week.  MADD thanks State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle for her part in putting this Unit together.

     Police agencies that participate in the Multi-Agency Task Force were also recognized.  Two years ago, MADD initiated a meeting that lead to this most important task force.  It was decided that combining our efforts would lead to greater effectivenesse.  Miami-Dade County police departments join together to hold sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

     We are also grateful to our generous donors for their support of this event.  Attorneys Andrew Haggard and Phil Gerson helped sponsor the Awards Ceremony as well as The Advocate Program.  Our three coveted awards were sponsored by Blue Knights Florida IV Chapter, Westbrook Towing and Wells Fargo. 

    William Craig Memorial DRE Award went to City of Miami Police Department Officer Kimberly Andrews.  Kim has been an officer for a relatively short period of time and has risen to the top of her class in traffic and DUI.  She is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), traffic homicide investigator, a breath test operator and DRE instructor.  We were honored to present her with this award and one of the best and brightest.

    Heart of MADD Award.  Helen Witty is a champion for youth education and life-saving legislation.  She is also a  victim and victim advocate.  Helen's sixteen year old daughter, HM was killed on June 1, 2000 by a drunk and stoned teenage girl.  Helen is an elequent speaker who pushes aside her personal pain to affect change.  She is able to inspire others because she loves easily and embraces MADD's mission with dignity, warmth and grace.  She has captured the heart of our community and is therefore most worthy of the Heart of MADD Award. 

    Trooper Robert Smith Memorial Award.  Officer Michael Weissberg has been with South Miami Police Department for two years and has been the driving force behind the newly energized and successful DUI program.  During this time and due to his diligence and dedication, DUI arrests at South Miami Police Department have increased more than138%.  He began the Sustained Enforcement Program with no money and has gotten all the equipment necessary including a new Intoxilyzer 8000 from donations, enforcement incentives and grants.  We also owe Officer MIchael Weissberg our debt of gratitude as he helped raise much of the money needed for this awards program.  Next year we were assured that Ofc. Weissberg will be one of the top DUI producers in the County, arresting 100+ drunk drivers. 

     Thank you all for your commitment to MADD's mission.