Pittsburgh area officers among those honored for DUI enforcement efforts
Seventeen local and state police officers in the Pittsburgh area are among 71 municipal and state law enforcement officers being honored for their vigilance in DUI enforcement.
The Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association is celebrating the 21st anniversary of its “DUI Top Gun” awards. Those being honored by the association include 42 state police troopers, 23 municipal law enforcement officers and six drug recognition experts.
Two Brentwood officers, Patrolman William Meisel and Officer Gerald Mikelonis, are among the honorees.
Other municipal Pittsburgh area honorees are Officer Jarreau Dodson of the Middlesex Township Police Department; Patrolman Kevin Diamond of the Lincoln Borough Police Department; Sgt. James Felt of the Robinson Township Police Department; and Sgt. Garrett Kimmell of the Elizabeth Borough Police Department.
State police honorees include three from Pittsburgh — Thomas Armour, Shane Reaghard and Andrew Reith — and two from Greensburg — Brandon Boyd and Kalin Gerhard.
Other Pittsburgh area state troopers being recognized are Jeffrey Flowers from Somerset; Mateo Hererra and Stephen Shurgott from Washington; Sherry Hogue from Beaver; Christopher Robbins from Kittanning; and Michael Schmidt from New Castle.
The association developed and offers the award to officers “that have a demonstrated commitment to DUI enforcement.”
“We expect a great deal from our law enforcement officers. We ask them to be a counselor, teacher, medical technician, social worker, psychologist, mentor and negotiator, and then we expect them to enforce the laws,” the association said. “Law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania deserve a thank you for the work in reducing the threat of impaired drivers on our roadways.”
The awards will be given during the association’s annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Lancaster Marriott. Recipients will receive their own portable breath test equipment “to further aid them in future DUI apprehensions,” the association said.
Brian Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.
