ESTEVAN - Members of the Estevan Police Service received Van De Vorst Medals on Wednesday as part of their efforts to apprehend impaired drivers.
Connie Hagel, the co-ordinator of the Estevan chapter for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, presented Van de Vorst Family Award medals to six officers during a ceremony at the EPS building.
Constable Vaughn Golden receive a platinum award for taking 45 impaired drivers off the road. Twenty-three of those motorists were charged under the Criminal Code due to their level of impairment, and 22 received driving suspensions. Hagel noted this is the first time an Estevan officer has received a platinum award.
Two officers, Const. Katelynn Ruthven and Const. Paul Chabot, received gold awards. Ruthven took 19 impaired motorists off the road, with seven for Criminal Code charges and 12 for suspensions, while Chabot arrested 18, with seven under the Criminal Code and 11 suspensions.
Three officers received silver awards: Const. Cole Hoover (seven Criminal Code and two suspensions), Const. Michelle Beaulieu (four Criminal Code and three suspensions) and Const. Jeremy Taman (four Criminal Code and three suspensions).
Officers are recognized for arresting motorists who are impaired by alcohol or by drugs, such as cannabis.
The medals are named in honour of the Van de Vorst family. Four members were killed in a two-vehicle collision just north of Saskatoon in early 2016. The driving of the other vehicle was impaired.
The awards recognize police officers in Saskatchewan who have charged between eight and 16 impaired drivers (silver coin), 17 to 39 impaired drivers (gold coin) or 40 or more impaired drivers (platinum coin).
