Minnesota Police Officers with Most DWI Arrests Named "DWI All-Stars"
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) just announced its "2013 DWI Enforcer All-Stars| and introduced them before the Minnesota Twins' baseball game at Target Field on Thursday.
The group is comprised of 34 law enforcement officers and prosecutors 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. 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.
The majority of Minnesota officers perform their jobs better than expected under harsh conditions. The take the motto |to serve and protect| very seriously, as well as their duty to put justice and service to the public first, relegating their own interests second.
They are polite with the public while ensuring that justice is served. 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.
These police officers understand their arrest numbers don't ensure public safety. These officers are the true ALL-STARS!
According to the DPS press release, the following were named based on the number of their 2012 arrests:
Twin Cities Police Officer |DWI All-Stars|:
Jeff Bilcik, Attorney General (prosecutor)
Jordan Davis, Minneapolis Police
Tony Gabriel, Maplewood Police
Eric Gadbois, White Bear Lake Police
James W. Golgart Jr, Minneapolis Police
Todd Groves, Eden Prairie Police
Paul Henstein, Minnesota State Patrol (West Metro district)
Mark Hibbard, Minnesota State Patrol (West Metro district)
Michael Lee, Minnesota State Patrol (West Metro district)
Andrew Martinek, Minnesota State Patrol (West Metro district)
Matt Olson, Maple Grove Police
Santiago Rodriguez, St. Paul Police
Mike Sellner, White Bear Lake Police
Gordon Shank, Minnesota State Patrol (West Metro district)
Adam Stier, Lakeville Police
Jack Tiegs, Minnesota State Patrol (East Metro district)
Timothy Tourville, Crystal Police
Jason Waage, Rosemount Police
Greater Minnesota DWI Enforcer All-Stars, including Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Gordon Shank with 269 DWI arrests in 2012 alone:
Chad Anderson, Moorhead Police
Kyle Backer, Minnesota State Patrol (St. Cloud district)
Brad Barrientos, Winona Police
Garrett Bondhus, Minnesota State Patrol (Rochester district)
Jeff Burbank, Red Wing Police
Tom Coulter, Blue Earth County Sheriff
Mark Diaz, Cass County Sheriff
Jesse Gilbertson, Big Lake Police
Chris James, Minnesota State Patrol (St. Cloud district)
Brian Martin, Blue Earth County Sheriff
Jeff McCormack, Austin Police
Joshua W. McCuen, Worthington Police
Chad Myers, Winona County Sheriff
Louis Norell, Windom Police
Matt O'Rourke, Grand Rapids Police
Steve Ott, Winona County (prosecutor)