M.A.D.D. Hero Award Presented To Eastvale Police

Staff Reports

Eastvale – On Tues., Aug. 4, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization recognized the Eastvale Police Department with the “M.A.D.D. California Hero Award,” during a special dinner held at the Grove Community Church in Riverside.

The special event was hosted by the California Office of Traffic Safety, M.A.D.D., and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Hero Award is presented to the agency with highest total number of DUI arrests. The City of Eastvale’s Police Department has taken an aggressive stance against driving under the influence. Their efforts include conducting DUI/Safety Checkpoints, DUI Saturation Patrols, and DUI Warrant Sweeps – all grant funded operations. In addition, the Department routinely engages in DUI enforcement at the patrol level.

In 2014, Eastvale Officers arrested 52 DUI drivers, five of which involved injury traffic collision investigations.

M.A.D.D. started its organization in September 1980, after California resident Candace Lightner’s 13-year old daughter, Cari, was killed by a convicted drunk driver. M.A.D.D. supports victims of drunk and drugged drivers, provides education, and gives support to local law enforcement and prosecutors in their fight to stop drivers under the influence. M.A.D.D has grown into a nationwide organization with a mission statement, “To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims, and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving.”

At Eastvale’s Aug. 12 City Council Meeting, Police Captain Jason Horton presented the M.A.D.D. California Hero Award to Mayor Ike Bootsma.

“Being awarded the M.A.D.D. California Hero Award is truly an honor for the City of Eastvale,” said Bootsma. “The Eastvale Police Department deserves to have its efforts recognized for the hard work they have performed to lower the number of drunk/drugged drivers on the streets of Eastvale.”

The M.A.D.D. California Hero Award is now on display at Eastvale’s City Hall.