Cinnaminson Officer Recognized For DWI Arrests By MADD

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Cinnaminson police officer Garrett McLaverty has been recognized for being the top municipal officer in Burlington County when it comes to DWI arrests by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the police department announced.

McLaverty was responsible for 29 DWI arrests in 2018, according to Lt. Thomas Lillagore. He was also recognized by MADD in 2017, but he wasn’t the top officer in the county that year.

“He’s done an outstanding job with us,” said Lillagore, who trained McLaverty when he came to the Cinnaminson Police Department in 2014 at the age of 23. “He’s very professional. He’s very effective at what he does.”

McLaverty is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE officer) with the police department. He is able to identify anyone who is under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol, when a breath alcohol test won’t explain why a person who has been pulled over is inebriated.

McLaverty graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy, and later the Mercer County Police Academy. Before coming to Cinnaminson, he was a Class II officer in Delanco for nine months. He began his career as a Class II officer in Wildwood, Lillagore said.

He participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. He also participates in mud runs, long distance races and snowboarding. Lillagore describes him as an "all-around American kid."

He is into health and fitness and mixed martial arts, but he is not someone who typically uses force in a situation. As Lillagore explained, he remains calm and is able to resolve a situation by speaking to the suspect.

“It’s no surprise that he got this award,” Lillagore said.

McLaverty was recognized during a ceremony at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Hundreds of police officers throughout the state as well as the families of the victims of drunk drivers attended the ceremony.