Pulling Drunk Drivers off Rockland Roads: 19 Officers Honored at Annual Luncheon

NEW CITY, NY - Rockland County Executive Ed Day honored 19 law enforcement officers Wednesday from numerous agencies. They were recognized for pulling a total of 316 drunken drivers off the road in 2016. The occasion: the annual STOP-DWI Awards luncheon.

Officers from Ramapo, Spring Valley, the Rockland Sheriff's Department, New York State police Troop T and Troop F, and New York State Park police were honored at the event. Each of the honorees made more than 10 drunk driving arrests on Rockland County roadways in 2016.

"A big thank you to all of our dedicated law enforcements officers who enforce Rockland's zero tolerance for drunken drivers," Day told the honorees. "We don't want drunken drivers on our roads, threatening the safety of our families."

Spring Valley police Officer Khalid Parwanta made 57 DWI arrests — the most by any officer in Rockland County in 2016. This was the 12th consecutive year Officer Parwanta was honored.

Spring Valley police Officer Shannon Hansen made 35 DWI arrests — the second most in Rockland County. This is the second year Officer Hansen has been honored.

Spring Valley police Officer Jacqueline Blumfield made 23 DWI arrests and is being honored for the second time.

The county executive thanked all the officers for their efforts. Every drunken driver removed from the road meant a possible car crash averted, he said.

"That's more than 316 crashes prevented and 316 people who weren't hurt or killed by someone driving drunk," he said.

STOP-DWI Coordinator Leslie Berger thanked the officers for enforcing Rockland's zero tolerance policy toward drunken drivers.

"We will continue to educate our young people and members of the community on the risks and fatal consequences of drinking and driving," she said.

AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2017

PHOTO: Rockland Sheriff Louis Falco, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, STOP-DWI Coordinator Leslie Berger with award winners/ Rockland County Executive's Office