More Delta police officers have been added to Alexa’s team for their efforts in keeping drinking and driving offenders off our streets.
Alexa’s Team was formed in 2008, the year that four-year-old Alexa Middelaer was killed by a drunk driver in Delta. Alexa’s Team is an anti-impaired driving program that recognizes police officers throughout B.C. who are committed to reducing the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs.
Last week during Canadian Road Safety Week, DPD Chief Neil Dubord made the announcement that 10 officers have been added to the team for 2019.
“Alexa’s Team was formed as an annual tribute to police officers in British Columbia who make extraordinary contributions to road safety in the province,” said Dubord. “Officers who issue at least 10 immediate roadside prohibitions are recognized at an annual event. The event was scheduled for April 22, but unfortunately had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dubord said the DPD officers combined to take more than 320 impaired drivers off the road in 2019.
Including drivers who:
· Blew a fail on the Approved Screening Device (penalty is fines, 90-day driving prohib, 30-day impound)
· Refused to blow (equivalent penalty to fail)
· Blew in the warning range – which meant they were prohibited from driving due to impairment for 3-30 days. (some had vehicles impounded)
· Were charged criminally with impaired driving
· Were given a 24-hour prohibition from driving (eg. believed to be impaired by drug, so taken off the road so a further investigation could be done)
· Went through a comprehensive evaluation by a Drug Recognition Expert (an investigative step done prior to an impaired driving charge).
Due to the nature of the work that some of the officers do, names of the officers have not been provided by DPD.
