Minnesota Police Officers with Most DWI Arrests Named "DWI All-Stars"
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced its “2010 DWI Enforcer All-Stars” today and will introduce them before the Minnesota Twins’ baseball game at Target Field.
The group is comprised of 30 law enforcement officers from the Twin Cities' metro area and Greater Minnesota. The DPS says they were chosen “for outstanding service in enforcement and in prosecution of impaired driving.”
As I’ve noted previously, the DPS seems concerned more with quantity than with quality of service. According to the Minnesota DPS press release, “Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Jack Tiegs is the state’s Most Valuable Enforcer, leading all law enforcement with 133 DWI arrests in 2009.”
As with previous lists, this list recognizes officers with the greatest number of stops and arrests. This troubles me. The criteria should be based on the quality of the officers’ performance, rather than mere numbers.
A good example of this occurred last week during a hearing in Red Wing, Goodhue County. The arresting officer was very candid in his testimony, admitting to the weaknesses in the case. It was apparent that he felt his job is not solely to lock up people who have been drinking and driving and to take their licenses to drive, but to uphold the constitution. I do not know how the case will turn out for my client, but I as I told the officer after the hearing, he should be commended either way for his professionalism. Unfortunately, not all cops would have testified similarly. Many would have fudged the facts or their testimony to make the case stronger against my client and to make themselves look better.
The majority of Minnesota officers perform their jobs better than expected under harsh conditions. Yet they do so go about their duties putting justice and service to the public first, relegating their own interests second.
These officers are the true ALL-STARS!
They are polite with the public while ensuring that justice is served. These police officers understand their arrest numbers don't ensure public safety. They testify truthfully, and take their jobs seriously. Unfortunately, they go unrecognized. This "honor" by the department of public safety discourages such behavior, while encouraging injustice and promoting further distrust of our valuable peace officers.
The DPS also recognized three prosecutors as part of the 2010 DWI Enforcer All-Stars. While it appears the DPS chose the officers with the greatest number of DWI arrests, it did not reveal the criteria for the prosecutors. My guess is that the DPS did not recognize them for using common sense in exercising their discretion whether to pursue a criminal conviction, license revocation or vehicle forfeiture.
According to the DPS press release, the following were named based on the number of their 2009 arrests:
Twin Cities Police Officer “DWI All-Stars” and the number of 2009 DWI arrests:
· Danny Bouavichith, Savage Police Department—53
· Officer Bill Hammes, Coon Rapids Police Department—63
· Officer Joshua Hunter, Corcoran Police Department—60
· Officer John Kolar, Shakopee Police Department—87
· Officer Scott Langner, Maplewood Police Department—72
· Officer Gabe Lee, Blaine Police Department—73
· Trooper Eric Micek, State Patrol—106
· Trooper Pat Miles, State Patrol—110
· Trooper Brian Reu, State Patrol—104
· Officer Santiago Rodriguez, St. Paul Police Department—78
· Officer Richard Schwab, South St. Paul Police Department—102
· Officer Dan Schyma, Apple Valley Police Department—57
· Officer Nic Stevens, Lakeville Police Department—89
· Trooper Jack Tiegs, State Patrol—133
· Trooper Ben Uzlik, State Patrol—121
Greater Minnesota DWI Enforcer All-Stars and number of 2009 DWI Arrests:
· Trooper Scott Barstad, State Patrol—82
· Officer Anthony Bermel, Pike Bay Police Department—23
· Trooper Garret Bondhus, State Patrol—118
· Deputy Tom Coulter, Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office—54
· Trooper Jason Engeldinger, State Patrol—51
· Officer Steve Estey, Virginia Police Department—39
· Deputy Lyan Karger, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office—80
· Officer Adam Kladivo, Hibbing Police Department—46
· Officer Scott Kostohryz, Moorhead Police Department—42
· Officer Brian Martin, Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office—61
· Trooper Lucas McArthur, State Patrol—96
· Deputy Dan Mott, Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office–53
· Officer Ryan Sayre, Hutchinson Police Department—44
· Officer Jean Valere, Rochester Police Department—48
· Officer Darin Vossen, Worthington Police Department—51
