The Alcoa Police Department was recognized at a Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) joint awards ceremony on Monday, December 12, 2011 for their efforts in reducing DUI-related accidents and fatalities.

At the ceremony, MADD program coordinator Julie Strike and GHSO law enforcement liaison Steve Dillard recognized Alcoa police officers Jeremy Patty and Arik “A.J.” Wilson for their DUI efforts in 2011. Patty and Wilson were named as two of the East Tennessee region’s DUI Officers of the Year.

Strike also recognized the Alcoa Police Department with a certificate of appreciation for its efforts in the Walk Like MADD campaign fundraiser and for hosting the “Blount County Victim’s Panel.” All first time DUI offenders, as a part of their court sentence, must attend this panel, in which victims tell offenders how a drunk driver changed or destroyed the life of a loved one.

“We were honored to accept these awards from MADD and the Governor’s Highway Safety Office at Monday’s meeting,” Alcoa Police Sgt. Keith Fletcher said. “We share in MADD and GHSO’s mission to protect families from those that are driving under the influence, and we will continue to work hard to keep these offenders off the roadways.”

Patty has worked for the Alcoa Police Department for more than four years. For the last three years, he has accounted for almost 25 percent of all DUI arrests made by the department. Wilson began working with the police department in January. Since he completed a field training program in late April, he has become second in the department in DUI arrests. “Both Officer Patty and Officer Wilson also have high DUI conviction rates due to their thorough investigations,” Alcoa Police Sgt. Hank Morris said. “They set the bar high and are well-deserving of these recognitions.”