Seven Delta police officers were recently added to Alexa's Team, which aims to make roads safer by reducing the number of impaired drivers.
Alexa's Team is named for Alexa Middelaer, the little girl killed by an impaired driver in 2008 while feeding a horse with her aunt in East Ladner.
DPD public affairs coordinator Sharlene Brooks said having officers named holds a special honour for the department.
"The tragic incident that resulted in the death of little Alexa and seriously injured her auntie happened on a neighbourhood street of Delta," said Brooks. "That little angel and her family inspired all of us and now we can continue to bring honour to her memory by being consistent in our efforts to make our roads safer by reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road."
Since that tragic accident, the Middelaer family has made it their mission to bring about positive change. They have spearheaded changes to provincial impaired driving legislation, bringing greater penalties to those who choose to continue to drink and drive.
In order to be named to Alexa's Team, a police officer has to have taken at least 12 impaired drivers off the road either through Criminal Code charge or through the immediate process in the previous year.
The Delta officers added to Alexa's Team this year include constables Joshua Lehbauer, Andrew Thompson, Grayson Smith, Nilo Diguangco, Jeremy Pearce, Emily Wawruck and Matt Taylor.
Three of the officers (Lehbauer, Thompson and Smith) were also named to the all-star team, having removed 25 or more impaired drivers during the past year.
Since its inception in 2008, Alexa's Team has grown from 26 to more than 2,000 RCMP and municipal police officers from all regions of B.C.
"Each year we are encouraged, inspired and respectful of the work that these officers do to keep our roads and communities safe," said Alexa's mother, Laurel Middelaer. "To know that our daughter Alexa is a source of inspiration to these committed men and women is humbling, and their dedication to go above and beyond is very meaningful to the Middelaer family."
