Local officers among those being honored by MADD

WOONSOCKET — Several police officers from Northern Rhode Island law enforcement agencies are among those who will be honored Friday at the 2019 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) RI Recognition Breakfast.

Detective Jason Berthelette of the Woonsocket Police Department and Officer Charles Walkup of the Central Falls Police Department are among 10 policemen who will receive “DUI Hero Pins,” for their efforts to enforce drunk driving laws.

MADD will honor more than 20 professionals and agencies in all, including Central Falls High School teacher Samantha Desmarais, the organization’s choice for Educator of the Year.

“MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving endorses and encourages high-visibility law enforcement and continuing diligence on the part of our police, prosecutors and probation professionals.” said Eric Creamer, MADD Rhode Island Executive Director. “And there are so many individuals involved in furthering our mission to prevent drunk and drugged driving, serve victims and prevent underage drinking. This annual event is our way of saying thanks to those who dedicate their lives to this important work.”

Sponsored by The Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation, MetLife, AAA Northeast, Pawtucket Credit Union, AIPSO (Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office), Uber, ASIS International Providence Chapter, The Warwick Police Department, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi and Yale New Haven Health, the recognition breakfast will be held Friday at 7:30 a.m. at the Cranston Country Club, 69 Burlingame Road, Cranston.

MADD National President Colleen Sheehy-Church will be one of the keynote speakers, while Shannon Hegy of WPRI-TV will be master of ceremonies for the third year.

In addition to Berthelette, Walkup and Desmarais, the list of honorees and their awards includes State Troopers Brendan Degnan, Dmitriy Drozdov and Michael Kane; Warwick Police Officer Aaron Kay; Providence Police Patrolman Michael Troia; Portsmouth Police Officer Michael Quinn; North Providence Police Officer Nicholas Gannon; and Cranston Police Chris Leclair – all receiving DUI Hero Pins.

Also, Officer DUI Hero of the Year – Richmond Police Sgt. William Litterio; Drug Recognition Expert of the Year – Cranston Police Sgt. Anthony Sassone-McHugh; School Resource Officer of the Year – Warwick Police Officer Nelson Carreiro; Rookie of the Year – Warwick Police Officer William Holz; Community Outreach – The Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation; Statewide Prosecutor of the Year – Assistant Attorney General John Corrigan; State Victim Advocate – Cheryl Damiani; Emergency Services – Westerly Ambulance Corps; Emergency Dispatch – Benjamin Daudelin; Volunteer Hero – Dan Converse; Legislative – Representative Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence); Victim Services – Amanda Gingell; Good Samaritan Award – Steve Lipps and Claire Padula; and Special Recognition for Dante Bellini of RDW Group.

The honorees were selected using a nomination process. No candidates were reviewed if a nomination form or correspondence was not sent back to MADD. A volunteer committee reviewed each submission.

“These individuals have been right on the front lines in preventing and stopping drunk driving, so creating an opportunity to showcase their efforts is extremely important,” Creamer said. “The cultural environment around drunk driving has changed significantly since MADD started in 1980. The numbers of drunk driving crashes and related injuries and fatalities are still alarming, and that is unacceptable.”