FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: MADD Illinois – Erin Payton, Regional Executive Director 630-541-6099 x 7751 erin.payton@madd.org
MADD Illinois Recognizes Outstanding DUI Enforcement and Community Partner Efforts
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Illinois will host its 14 th Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner in Springfield on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 6:00pm. MADD “Hero” awards will be presented to officers and community partners across the state for excellence in their field. This event is made possible, in part, through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Who: MADD Illinois Illinois Department of Transportation Law Enforcement Heroes across the state
What: Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner
Where: Crowne Plaza 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL
When: Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 6:00pm
Why: MADD’s Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner is held annually to recognize the tireless work of law enforcement partners across the state.
The list of MADD Heroes award recipients:
Illinois State Police Trooper Sterling Ross- Troop 3 Trooper Ryan Billingsley- Troop 5 Trooper Craig Beiermann- Troop 6 Trooper Christopher Wittemann- Troop 7
Trooper Mathew Tranter- Troop 8 Trooper Kevin Bradley- Troop 15
Illinois Conservation Police Department Officer Austin Priest
Woodford County Sheriff's Office Deputy Thomas McGuire DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputy David Christiansen Grundy County Sheriff's Office Deputy Alex Butts Lake County Sheriff's Office Deputy Michael Turkson Coles County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chris Cochennour Riverdale Police Department Officer Daniel Lopez Barrington Police Department Sergeant John McGowan Bartlett Police Department Officer Jim Zefo Mattoon Police Department Officer Rolando Monte De Oca Belvidere Police Department Officer Matthew Korn Carol Stream Police Department Officer Brian Rudelich Officer Nicolas Bacidore Arlington Heights Police Department Officer Jeffrey Heffernan Hoffman Estates Police Department Officer Anne Witt
Palatine Police Department Officer Taylor Black
Melrose Park Police Department Officer William Bianchi
Niles Police Department Officer Roy Brines
Bannockburn Police Department Sergeant Dennis Sears Gurnee Police Department Officer JR Nauseda Lombard Police Department Officer Matthew Kazy-Garey Schaumburg Police Department Officer David Cantillon Edwardsville Police Department Officer Derrick Nichols
Chicago Police Department Officer Joseph Loiacono
Elgin Police Department Officer Joshua Miller
Michael Collins Humanitarian Award: The Michael Collins Humanitarian Award is given to law abiding members of any Illinois community who selflessly spread awareness through volunteer work at events related to impaired driving, spread awareness to their local community and are a resource on issues related to drunk and drugged driving. These individuals also put forth efforts to ensure the mission of MADD will remain financially solvent in years to come. Dawn and Tedd Kruse will be honored with this award for their tireless efforts in preventing future impaired driving crashes. The Kruses’ 16-year-old daughter Maddie was killed in a crash in 2015; since then they have spoken in schools, supported other families in crash aftermaths and have supported MADD through event and grant fundraising. Brian McMillen Award: Officer William Bianchi of the Melrose Park Police Department will be honored for his DUI career achievements as the recipient of the 2023 Brian McMillen Award. The Brian McMillen Award is named in honor of Illinois State Trooper Brian McMillen who was killed in the line of duty in 2007 by two drunk drivers. This award is presented to an officer that has shown exemplary achievement in DUI enforcement. It also recognizes service and integrity above oneself and excellence in the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Murphy Leadership Award: Tom Turek will be honored with the Murphy Leadership Award for his years of dedicated service as the Illinois Drug Evaluation and Classification Program Coordinator. This award is named in honor of George and Marilyn who have supported MADD in its fight to end impaired driving since 1984. Dan Stafiej DRE of the Year Award: Deputy David Christiansen of the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office will be honored the event’s inaugural DRE of the Year Award. This award is named after Daniel Stafiej, who passed away earlier this year. Officer Stafiej served as
a police officer and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) at Carol Stream Police Department from 2007-2023 and found his niche in the traffic unit. As a Senior DRE Instructor, Officer Stafiej became a leader in the DRE community and taught thousands of prosecutors and officers in DRE, ARIDE, and SFST classes.
If the media would like to attend this event, they can request them by emailing erin.payton@madd.org.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving ® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 400,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving ® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD. # # #
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