Manchester Officer Honored For Efforts In Fighting DWI

(Photo courtesy of the Manchester Police Department)

Manchester Township Police Officer Michael Guarino was awarded the Kimberly Smith-Ames DWI Certificate of Recognition by the Ocean County Traffic Officers Association.

According to Manchester police, Guarino was given the award for “rigorously enforcing” the laws prohibiting driving while intoxicated. Guarino led the department in DWI arrests. He participated in several high visibility DWI enforcement campaigns throughout the year. He was one of five officers from around Ocean County vying for the award.

The 9th Annual Kimberly Smith-Ames DWI Prevention Award was created to honor the life and memory of a 23-year-old woman struck by a drunk driver in Beachwood on Oct. 7, 1998. She and her unborn child were killed. The award was created by her parents, Ed and Carol Smith.

According to a press release, the purpose of this award is to increase the public’s awareness of the enormous commitment and determination put forward by the men and women of the Ocean County law enforcement community in educating and preventing driving while intoxicated offenses while acknowledging those officers who have demonstrated such commitment to this fight.