Six New Westminster Police Service members were honoured last week for being part of Alexa's Team, the group formed in remembrance of Alexa Rene Middelaer, who died in May 2008 at age four-and-a-half after being run down by a vehicle car by an impaired driver.
"To be nominated for Alexa's Team, police officers must have taken at least 12 criminally impaired drivers off the road," Insp. Ted Emanuels said in a press release.
New Westminster Police Service members who were recognized were: Const. Darryl Pakosh, Const. Andrea Martens, Const. Stu Hagen, Const. Ryan Phillips, Const. Mike Wise and Const. John MacDonald.
The Lower Mainland district recognition event was held at Southridge school in Surrey where Alexa's mother, Laurel Middelaer, is the principal.
Since the program's inception in 2008, Alexa's Team members have been involved in more than 30,000 impaired driving charges and penalties.
In 2011, 340 police officers qualified to become members of Alexa's Team, bringing the total to more than 760 since 2008.
Each year the number of team members has grown significantly, from 26 in 2008, to 174 in 2009, 224 in 2010 and 340 in 2011.
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