Brentwood, NY - April 23, 2014 - Today, County Executive Bellone, Chief Burke and Suffolk County Stop DWI representatives honored twenty-three Police Officers for making the most DWI arrests in Suffolk County.  The prestigious ceremony, held at the Suffolk County Police Academy, honored all the officers and awarded one officer with the Top Cop award after making 118 arrests this year.  This year the Top Cop honor was bestowed upon Timothy Murphy of the Riverhead Police Department.

“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 police agencies made over 5692 arrests in 2013 and more than 15,000 DWI arrests in the past 3 years.

In 2013, 51 people were killed in Suffolk County by the reckless behavior of drunk drivers as compared to 47 the previous year.  Although, DWI fatalities have declined by 56% since 1979, Suffolk County recognizes that many challenges remain and will continue to be vigilant.

“Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways, stated County Executive Bellone  “We remain committed to arresting anyone who chooses to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car, endangering the lives of others.”

The following officers were honored today:

Village of Amityville                         Joseph Slack                          

Village of East Hampton                  Steven Niggles                                                

Village of Northport                         Micheael Gigante                               

Village of Quogue                             John Galvin                                                   

Village of Southampton                    Sashley Jones                                                

Village of Westhampton                   Steven McManus                                          

Town of East Hampton                    Vincent Rantinella                                        

Town of Riverhead                           Timothy Murphy                                          

Town of Shelter Island                      Christopher Drake                 

Town of Southampton                      Carl Schottenhamel                

Town of Southold                             Rory Flatley                           

New York State                                Michael P. Grosso                                           

Suffolk County Parks                       Greg Sandbichler                   

Suffolk County Sheriff                      Brian Rasiak                          

SCPD 1st Precinct                            David Leath                                      

SCPD 2nd Precinct                           Harry Jos                                          

SCPD 3rd Precinct                            Chris Anskat                                     

SCPD 4th Precinct                            Doug Nassisi                                     

SCPD 5th Precinct                            Jamie Bustamante                             

SCPD 6th Precinct                            Anthony Legotti                                            

SCPD 7th Precinct                            Brandon Neal                                   

SCPD Highway Patrol                      William Murray                                            

SCPD SAFE-T Team                        Roger Kleber

The Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (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 will continue to work toward the reduction of drinking and driving in Suffolk through its support of increased enforcement, swift and certain prosecution, sound and cost effective rehabilitation, tough probation, and public information and education campaigns.

Photo: (L-r: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Riverhead Police Officer Timothy Murphy and Chief David J. Hegermiller)