Several New Westminster police officers have been recognized for their efforts to take dozens of impaired drivers off the road in a single year.
At the April police board meeting, Chief Const. Dave Jansen highlighted the work of several members of the New Westminster Police Department who are now part of Alexa’s Team, in recognition of their work in removing impaired drivers from the road. The awards are given out in memory of Alexa Middelaer, a four-year-old girl who was killed by an impaired driver in Delta in 2008.
“This was a preventable tragedy,” Jansen said.
Each year, municipal police officers and RCMP officer are recognized for reducing the number of drivers affected by alcohol or drugs on British Columbia’s roads and highways by becoming members of Alexa’s Team. In order to receive a nomination to Alexa’s Team, Jansen said police officers have to remove a minimum of 12 impaired drivers by immediate roadside prohibition or Criminal Code investigations due to impairment by either drugs or alcohol.
According to Jansen, six members of the New Westminster Police Department joined Alexa’s Team in 2021, a number he said is “pretty incredible” given the size of the organization and the number of officers employed.
“I would say that our percentage of officers is quite remarkable,” he told the police board. “These obviously aren’t the only officers that removed impaired drivers.”
The latest NWPD officers to join Alexa’s Team are: Const. Chris Faris (who removed 30 impaired drivers from the road); Const. Kamoh Malcolm (26); Const. Ryan Rossetti (24); Const. Brad Wardner (24) impaired drivers; Const. Brenden Vogt (19). And); and Const. Kelden Edwards (17).
“I just want to say on behalf of myself and the leadership team we are super impressed,” Jansen said. “A pretty great achievement.”
