Crackdown on Drunk Driving Continues, Quogue Police Officer Honored

QUOGUE, NY - A Quogue police officer was honored Tuesday for his efforts to crack down on drunk drivers on the East End.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Timothy Sini and Suffolk County Stop DWI representatives honored 23 police officers, or "tops cops", including Officer Robert Hammel from the Quogue Police Department, for leading the charge to reduce drunk driving and reckless vehicular behavior, a release said.

The ceremony, held at the Suffolk County Police Academy at Suffolk County Community College, honored law enforcement agents who made the biggest difference in their respective communities in 2015.

Each department, precinct or command nominated an officer among their ranks who arrested the highest number of DWI offenders last year.

“It is extremely important to us that motorists who are driving while intoxicated are stopped,” said Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive. “DWI tragedies don’t just affect those involved, they impact the families of victims as well. Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways. We are committed to arresting anyone who chooses to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car, endangering the lives of others.”

Suffolk County law enforcement agencies made more than 15,000 DWI arrests in the past three years, officials said.

The Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated, or STOP-DWI, is a comprehensive program specifically designed to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related traffic fatalities and injuries in New York State. The program is supported by the fines collected from individuals convicted of alcohol-related traffic infractions. STOP-DWI supports increased enforcement, "swift and certain prosecution, sound and cost effective rehabilitation, tough probation, and public information and education campaigns," the release said.