ICJI Executive Director Devon McDonald, left, and Gov. Eric Holcomb, right, pose with Johnson County Deputy Andrew Eggebrecht at the Traffic All Star Award ceremony held at Victory Field Tuesday.
A Johnson County deputy is among those recently honors with the Traffic Safety All Star Award.
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Executive Director Devon McDonald presented the 83 officers, including Andrew Eggebrecht of Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, with the Traffic Safety All Star Award on Tuesday. To qualify for the award, an officer must have displayed outstanding performance in impaired driving enforcement. This could include a significant number of arrests or leadership to promote impaired driving prevention, according to ICJI.
The all-stars, who were nominated by their departments, were recognized during a ceremony held at Victory Field in Indianapolis. For Eggebrecht, this is the second-straight year he received the award.
“I am deeply grateful to the officers who work tirelessly to keep our roads and communities safe,” Holcomb said in a statement. “Their commitment to curbing impaired driving is admirable, and their efforts have saved countless lives. I congratulate them on their well-deserved, hard-earned achievement.”
Now in its fourth year, the Traffic Safety All-Star awards program was created by ICJI as a way to recognize police officers who go above and beyond in the fight against impaired driving.
“The brave men and women who patrol our roads are the first line of defense against drunk and drug-impaired driving,” McDonald said in a statement. “Every time they make a stop, they potentially save a life. Our roads and communities are safer, and people are alive today, thanks to their dedicated service. We owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Each officer demonstrated this by working to educate motorists about the importance of safe driving and working overtime to enforce Indiana’s traffic laws. This often meant conducting extra high visibility patrols or sobriety checkpoints during peak travel periods and holidays associated with drinking, according to ICJI.
In total, the officers who were recognized made more than 3,500 operating while intoxicated arrests last year. Despite their efforts, still, approximately 1 out of 5 fatal crashes in Indiana involves a drunk driver.
“These all-stars are stepping up to the plate to make our roads safer. Their goal is to prevent crashes and save lives, and their work is needed now more than ever,” Jim Bryan, ICJI Traffic Safety Director, said in a statement. “These individuals and organizations are working tirelessly to educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving, to enforce the law, and to provide support to those affected by impaired driving. They are all-stars in the truest sense of the word, and we are grateful for their dedication.”
As part of the program, ICJI also sought to highlight the importance of high-visibility enforcement and to encourage drivers to do their part by always planning ahead for a safe ride home.
