Nebraska Mothers Against Drunk Driving honors law enforcement at ceremony

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization held an awards ceremony honoring law enforcement officers on Tuesday.

Before the awards were handed out, the organization invited retired Oklahoma Sheriff John Whetsel to speak.

He has the unique perspective of not only being a law enforcement officer but as a victim of drunk driving.

Whetsel spoke about the day his wife and one of his daughters died as a result of a drunk driver.

The awards ceremony is a way for the organization to thank officers who get impaired drivers off the road.

“We know that impaired driving kills people on our roads every day,” said Sara Draper, program specialist for MADD Nebraska.  “We need to thank the officers who are doing the work because they are saving lives each and every time they remove an impaired driver from the roadways.”

In total, MADD gave out more than 30 awards to law enforcement officers.

Members of the Lincoln and University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Police Departments were handed awards.

Deputies with the Lancaster and York County Sheriff’s Offices were also awarded for their work.

Lincoln Police and Nebraska State Patrol took home the most awards with nine each.