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Tuesday, October 10, 2006
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MADD honors officer Troy Nash Brainerd officer, with 41 drunk driving arrests in 2005, among nine honored Staff Writer Brainerd Police Officer Troy Nash doesn't seek recognition for his diligence in arresting alcohol-impaired drivers.
So even he was surprised to learn that in 2005 he had made 41 such arrests, including one that led to the seizure of a classic 1967 Chevrolet Corvette with an estimated value of more than $100,000.
However, the Crow Wing County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving noticed Nash's efforts, as well as the efforts of eight other law enforcement officers in Crow Wing County, in taking drunken drivers off area roadways. On Monday, all nine were honored by MADD at the 2006 Law Enforcement Recognition Award ceremony at the Brainerd Police Department.
For Nash, arresting drunken drivers is just a part of his job.
"I don't go for numbers. I do my job and good things come from that," Nash said. "To be nominated, that's quite an honor."
Along with Nash, who was nominated by Deputy Chief Corky McQuiston, the other MADD honorees included Breezy Point Police Officer Josef Garcia, who was nominated by Sgt. Kevin Merschman; Crosby Police Officer Michael Van Horn, who was nominated by Chief Kim Coughlin; Crow Wing County Sheriff's Sgt. Chad Paulson, who was nominated by Sheriff Eric Klang; State Patrol Cpl. Troy Larson, who was nominated by Capt. Mark Jonassen; and Pequot Lakes Police Officer Joshua Gartner, who was nominated by Chief Jerry Braam.
Also honored Monday for their years of service to MADD were Brainerd Police Officer Mike Lambert, State Patrol Sgt. Curt Mowers and State Patrol Maj. Kent O'Grady, former captain of the Brainerd District of the State Patrol who's now in charge of special operations at the State Patrol's St. Paul office.
Gartner, too, said he was honored to be recognized by a national organization such as MADD.
He said he takes pride in removing drunken drivers from the road because doing so could save lives.
"I see this as a thanks from the public," Gartner said of the award.
This was the first year that MADD has honored local law enforcement officers. Pat Bluth, founder of the Crow Wing County chapter of MADD, said her group hasn't decided if it would hold the ceremony annually but she knows it won't be a one-time ceremony.
Bluth said the ceremony grew out of MADD's victim impact panels, which all convicted DUI offenders in Crow Wing County must attend. Bluth said the panel is attended by 125-150 offenders.
"It made us realize that law enforcement is doing its job and we need to do something to recognize them," Bluth said.
Each honoree received a hand-carved, black walnut desktop clock carved by MADD member Jan Lambert's father, Bernie Smith.
The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Mrs. Minnesota Angela Haseman, a police officer in the Twin Cities.
Her Mrs. Minnesota platform is educating people about the negative effects of drinking and driving.
Haseman noted that 17,000 people die every year in the U.S. in alcohol-related vehicle crashes. The number isn't going down, she said, because society is still tolerant of drunk drivers.
She suggested that the officers gathered for Monday's ceremony continue to push judges and prosecuting attorneys for stricter punishments for drinking and driving offenses.
"This is serious. We shouldn't be tolerating drinking and driving," Haseman said. "Each officer in this room has already made a choice that every life is worth protecting. I thank you for being out there and caring enough to send that message."
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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