Law Enforcement Champion Award Categories
Each year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) present the Law Enforcement Champion Awards for Colorado.
A law enforcement champion is an individual with outstanding contributions in the prevention and enforcement of impaired driving, traffic safety, or occupant protection. This can be demonstrated by efforts such as DUI patrols or safety belt campaigns during the established enforcement periods throughout the year. It can also be demonstrated by advanced training, drug recognition expert activity, high visibility enforcement tactics, community engagement, prevention programs, and other related activities.
These are the 2022 award categories:
COL. MARK V. TROSTEL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD: MADD’s highest honor bestowed on an individual in recognition of years of outstanding service in the field of DUI enforcement and detection, traffic safety, and underage drinking prevention and enforcement.
SGT. DAVID BALDWIN: CDOT’s highest honor that commemorates Sergeant Baldwin’s dedicated service in the field of traffic safety. This recognition is bestowed on an individual for distinguished and dedicated service to traffic safety.
DR. ROBERT E. WELTZER OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO TRAFFIC SAFETY: Presented to a non-law enforcement individual or agency in recognition of years of outstanding commitment and service to improving traffic safety.
MADD HERO AWARD: Presented to a law enforcement officer who has exceeded expectations in their commitment to MADD’s mission by showing dedication to drunk and drugged driving enforcement and detection, supporting victims of impaired driving, and underage drinking prevention and enforcement.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO INVESTIGATING IMPAIRED DRIVING CRASHES: Presented to a law enforcement officer or agency who understands that recreating and explaining impaired driving crash scenes is vital to ensuring just resolutions in criminal cases. This awardee has shown exemplary commitment to investigating impaired driving fatality and injury crashes.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL DEDICATION TO IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT: Presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to drunk and drugged driving enforcement. This awardee has shown a commitment to proactive enforcement, public awareness and outreach, community education, high visibility enforcement efforts (e.g., saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints), and professional development.
OUTSTANDING TEAM DEDICATION TO IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT: Presented to a team that has demonstrated outstanding dedication to drunk and drugged driving enforcement. This team has shown a commitment to visible and proactive enforcement (e.g., saturation patrols or sobriety checkpoints), public awareness and outreach, community education, and professional development.
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT OF THE YEAR, FRONT RANGE: Presented to a Drug Recognition Expert who has demonstrated superior dedication to preventing drunk and drugged driving crashes. In addition, the awardee has made significant educational efforts related to their expertise in drug recognition during the past year.
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT OF THE YEAR, RURAL: Presented to a Drug Recognition Expert who has demonstrated superior dedication to preventing drunk and drugged driving crashes. In addition, the awardee has made significant educational efforts related to their expertise in drug recognition during the past year.
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR: Presented to a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor who has demonstrated superior knowledge, teaching ability, and dedication to advancing the field of impaired driving enforcement. In addition, the awardee has made significant teaching efforts related to their expertise in drug recognition during the past year.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT: Presented to an individual or team who have demonstrated dedication to saving lives from underage drinking. This may include enforcing the minimum drinking age through proactive underage drinking prevention (with a focus on both adults and minors), compliance initiatives in their communities, educational programs, counseling and enforcement of underage drinking and impaired driving prevention in our schools.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL DEDICATION TO OCCUPANT PROTECTION: Presented to a law enforcement officer who, understands that the majority of people killed in impaired driving crashes are unrestrained, and has shown outstanding commitment to education, awareness, and enforcement of safety belt laws and child passenger safety.
OUTSTANDING TEAM DEDICATION TO OCCUPANT PROTECTION: Presented to a team who understands that the majority of people killed in impaired driving crashes are unrestrained, and has shown outstanding commitment to education, awareness, and enforcement of safety belt laws and child passenger safety.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO SPEED ENFORCEMENT: Presented to a law enforcement officer who has demonstrated dedication to speed enforcement. This awardee has shown an outstanding commitment to education, awareness, and enforcement of speed violations.
OUTSTANDING VICTIM ADVOCATE: Presented to a victim advocate who has, in the spirit of MADD’s mission, demonstrated initiative, creativity, and compassion to ensure victim rights, seek justice, and promote healing and growth for victims of impaired driving crashes and underage drinking.
OUTSTANDING PROSECUTOR: Presented to a prosecutor who shows outstanding dedication to prosecution of underage drinking, DUI, DUID, vehicular assault, or vehicular homicide cases. This awardee has demonstrated a commitment to MADD’s mission and to seeking justice for the victims of these crimes.
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD: Presented to an executive or administrative leader in law enforcement who prioritizes MADD’s mission, motivates officers to engage in proactive enforcement, and commits resources to save lives on our roads.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO PROBATION: Presented to a probation officer or probation department that has shown outstanding commitment to ensuring just supervision of impaired driving offenders. The awardee has demonstrated keen attention to details of cases, ensuring proper evaluation and fitting recommendations and oversight to reduce recidivism.