FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 19, 2017
Contact: Jane Lerner, Director of Strategic Communications
Office of the County Executive (845) 638-5645

Rockland County Executive Honors 19 officers for DWI Arrests That Keep Our Communities Safe

NEW CITY, NY – Rockland County Executive Ed Day today honored 19 law enforcement officers from numerous agencies who pulled a total of 316 drunken drivers off the road in 2016.

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 annual STOP-DWI Awards luncheon.

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

                          2016 DWI ARRESTS       CONSECUTIVE AWARDS 

TOWN OF RAMAPO
Officer Marc Lieman        16        2
Officer Andre Sanchez      12        1
Officer Jonathan Quinn    12         3
Officer John Youngman     11        1
Sgt. Chris Youngman       20         6

VILLAGE OF SPRING VALLEY
Officer Jacqueline Blumfield     23     2

SHERIFF'S PATROL
Officer Robert Moger            9       9

NEW YORK STATE PARK POLICE
Officer Nelson Marti            10    2

NEW YORK STATE TROOP T
Officer Sy Lee                 10     1

NEW YORK STATE TROOP F
Trooper Daniel Balletto      13      3
Trooper Keith Fitzgerald     13      2
Trooper Ray Hasan            11      11
Trooper Don Kim              10       1
Trooper Thomas Orbacz     10        1

****TOP SHERIFF
Officer James Russell       13       3

***2nd Place TROOPER
Trooper Kenneth Plate       15      2

*****TOP TROOPER
Trooper Shameed Yadali    16     10

****2nd Place - MUNICIPAL
Officer Shannon Hansen (Spring Valley) 35    2

****TOP COP – MUNICIPAL
Officer Khalid Parwanta (Spring Valley) 57    12