MADD NJ HONORS TOP DWI COPS
Atlantic City PD's O'Hala Lauded

(Atlantic City, Sept. 20, 2006) – In a simple ceremony in the Atlantic City Mayor’s office attended by colleagues, friends and family, Officer Michael O’Hala of the Atlantic City Police Department was officially recognized by the New Jersey affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for outstanding vigilance in stopping and citing drunk drivers. O’Hala made 87 DWI arrests in 2005, more than any other officer or trooper in New Jersey.

O’Hala’s citation caps off a dozen local ceremonies held throughout the state this spring and summer to honor officers issuing the highest number of citations for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) during 2005. More than 320 officers and State Troopers were nominated by their departments for the MADD recognition. The events, as well as materials designed to assist police officers in directing crash victims to MADD’s free services, were made possible by a grant from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

In all, more than 322 honorees from 296 local police departments and 10 from the State Police were honored. The MADD honorees represent about 2% of all officers in their departments, yet they are responsible for 20% of all DWIs issued.

“About 30,000 citations for driving while intoxicated are issued in New Jersey each year,” noted Teresa Stevens, State Executive Director for MADD NJ. “Law enforcement personnel who issue these citations put themselves at risk every day for our safety. Taking the time to say thank you once a year is the least we can do.”

According to Stevens, in spite of the vigilance of these officers and others like them, research suggests that only one driver is apprehended for every 700 incidences of intoxicated driving. “Drunk driving is 100% preventable, yet hundreds of New Jerseyans are killed and thousands seriously injured in crashes every year. We can’t afford to go backwards. We hope these honorees will inspire other officers to make issuing DWIs a higher priority.”

For more information or to get involved in state and local MADD projects, call (609) 585-7233.