DUI Group to Honor 28 Law Enforcement Officers

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 19, 2005 -- Fourteen Pennsylvania State Police troopers are among 28 law enforcement officers to be honored by a statewide association for their efforts to combat drinking and driving in Pennsylvania, State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said today.

The Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association, a professional organization founded in 1979 to reduce deaths and injuries resulting from DUI, will present its "2005 DUI Top Gun Awards" during the annual meeting Thursday, Oct. 20, in Camp Hill.

"Law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania deserve special thanks for their outstanding efforts in reducing the threat of impaired drivers on our roads," said C. Stephen Erni, the association's executive director.

State Police members to be honored are Tpr. Craig R. Finkle, Troop H, Chambersburg, Franklin County; Tpr. Jeffrey C. Flowers, Troop A, Somerset, Somerset County; Tpr. Joseph A. Loughran, Troop G, Hollidaysburg, Blair County; Tpr. Eric R. Miller, Troop D, Mercer, Mercer County; Tpr. Samuel J. Nassan, Troop B, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County; Tpr. John E. Pash, Troop B, Uniontown, Fayette County; Tpr. Scott A. Plank, Troop G, Hollidaysburg, Blair County.

Also, Tpr. Scott M. Smith, Troop A, Somerset, Somerset County; Tpr. Sean P. Taylor, Troop H, York, York County; Tpr. Robert T. Thompson, Troop E, Girard, Erie County; Tpr. Brian M. Torkar, Troop H, York, York County; Tpr. Robert L. Wetzel, Troop B, Washington, Washington County; Tpr. Jeffrey L. Wirth, Troop B, Belle Vernon, Fayette County, and Tpr. Eric D. Zona, Troop B, Belle Vernon, Fayette County.

Other law enforcement officers to be honored are Water Conservation Officer Corey Britcher, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Patrol Officer Stephen Curley, Upper Moreland Township Police Department, Montgomery County; Patrolman Charles Dietterick, Hemlock Township Police Department, Columbia County; Officer Patrick Gartrell Jr., Northern York County Regional Police Department, York County; Patrolman Daniel Hair, West Shore Regional Police Department, Cumberland County; Officer Michael Kenderski, Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County; Patrolman Gary Krek, Baldwin Township Police Department, Allegheny County.

Also, Patrolman Guy Kuzak, Crafton Borough Police Department, Allegheny County; Officer William Meisel Jr., Brentwood Police Department, Allegheny County; Patrolman John Morozin, Buckingham Township Police Department, Bucks County; Officer William Muse, State College Police Department, Centre County; Patrolman Robert Olecki Jr., Scranton Police Department, Lackawanna County; Patrolman Robert Ressler, West Shore Regional Police Department, Cumberland County, and Officer Donald Schwab, Bensalem Township Police Department, Bucks County.

Miller said the theme of the association's annual meeting is "Taking It to the Streets." He noted that the award winners will join other troopers and municipal police officers to conduct several sobriety checkpoints in the Harrisburg area on the evening of Friday, Oct. 21.

Members of the Pennsylvania DUI Association include criminal justice system professionals, business and industry representatives, and drug and alcohol treatment professionals. The association's activities include providing training to highway safety personnel, developing and distributing resource materials, and coordinating the state Students Against Driving Drunk office.

Additional information about the association is available at http://www.padui.org/.