Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is known primarily for its advocacy of the cause of sober driving. It also aids and counsels drunk driving victims and their families. And the organization has a third function: to honor those who have made the roads safer across the country. Last month MADD took the opportunity to hail the heroes of North Carolina at its annual Awards of Excellence Banquet.
Held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary NC, the banquet placed the spotlight on law enforcement personnel and mission partners who have worked toward the vision they share: a nation where no one drives drunk or drugged.
North Carolina has made progress in the fight against drunk driving, and these and other people – some honored by MADD, some yet to be recognized – have worked hard to keep impaired drivers off the road. There is more to be done. For instance, North Carolina has not yet passed a law mandating ignition interlocks for all DWI offenders, as 25 other states have. Ignition interlocks have been a priority for MADD for a long time.
For that and other vital legislation in North Carolina, MADD is on the job. And when police, legislators and road safety advocates excel in the business of making life safer for motorists and pedestrians, MADD will be there to honor them.
2016 MADD Awards of Excellence
| Police Officer of the Year | Justin Kupfer, Charlotte – Mecklenburg PD |
| Sheriff Deputy of the Year | Lt Kevin Jones, Orange County Sheriffs Office |
| Trooper of the Year | Danny Burgess NCSHP – Rockingham County |
| Prosecutor of the Year | Donald Rice ADA – Gaston County |
| Prosecutor of the Year | Jason Waller ADA – Wake County |
| Underage Drinking Prevention | Jonathan Cerdan Charlotte – Mecklenburg PD |
| Agency of the Year | Waynesville PD |
| DWI Tsk Frc/Team | NCSHP DWI Task Force, Troop B |
| Hero Award | Sgt Ann Fowler Asheville PD |
| Hero Award | Sgt Kevin Wallace Guilford County Sheriffs Office |
| Enforcer of the Year Member of DWI Team |
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| 1st – 278 Arrests | Eric Crawford – Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD DWI Task Force |
| 1st – 214 Arrests | Matthew Pressley – Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD DWI Task Force |
| 2nd – 197 Arrests | Ben Sherill – Guilford County DWI Task Force |
| 3rd – 170 Arrests | Jonathan Cerdan – Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD DWI Task Force |
| 4th – 168 Arrests | Andrew Drake – Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD DWI Task Force |
| Enforcer of the Year Non-Taskforce |
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| 1st – 217 Arrests | Joseph Thomas – NCSHP – Vance County |
| 2nd – 155 Arrests | Eugene Burrell – NCSHP – Vance County |
| 3rd – 154 Arrests | Steven Reed – NCSHP – Cumberland County |
| 4th – 151 Arrests | John Daniel – NCSHP – Vance County |
| 5th – 142 Arrests | Jay Goodnight – Guilford County |
| Heart of Madd |
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| Pam Kearns | MADD Chapter Leader Davidson County |
| Troop C district 4 | NCSHP – Vance, Granville, Warren |
| Ingrid Nunez | MADD Volunteer Durham County |