Law enforcement officers across the region honoured for efforts apprehending impaired drivers

Seventeen officers from throughout southern Alberta were presented with Cpl. Cumming’s Watch awards by MADD Lethbridge & Area Chapter for their efforts detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. 

The ceremony, hosted in the LPS atrium, also recognized the first Indigenous female officer to receive the award. 

The Cpl. Cumming’s Watch started in 2015 and is a collaborative effort between Alberta RCMP, MADD Canada and Alberta Transportation to support police efforts in the detection and apprehension of impaired drivers on Alberta roadways. The program is named in honour of Cpl. Graeme Cumming, a member of the RCMP who was killed on duty by an impaired driver while attending a traffic incident on Highway 3 near Lethbridge, Alberta on August 12, 1998. 

Nominations for Cpl. Cumming’s Watch are open to every police agency in Alberta. For charging between 15 and 24 impaired drivers during a calendar year, or for identifying between 5 and 10 in a drug recognition evaluation, officers receive a certificate of recognition and a Silver Challenge Coin. For charging more than 25 impaired drivers during a calendar year, or for identifying 10 or more as a drug recognition evaluation, officers receive a certificate of recognition and a Gold Challenge Coin. 

The following officers were recognized at today’s ceremony:

·         From the Lethbridge Police Service

o   Cst. Mike Dowsley (Gold) – 26 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Barent Goodrich (Silver) – 7 Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations

o   Cst. Shaun McCarthy (Gold) – 35 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Brent Paxman (Gold) – 51 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Jason Roth (Gold) – 30 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Josh Smith (Silver) – 15 impaired drivers charged

·         From the Blood Tribe Police

o   Acting Sgt. Donald Roper (Gold) – 10 DRE evaluations

o   Cst. Coral Fenner (Gold) – 25 impaired drivers charged
        (First Indigenous female officer to receive the award!)

·         From the Alberta Sheriffs

o   Sgt. Kayla Campbell (Silver) – 16 impaired drivers charged

o   Sheriff Don Naylor (Silver) – 15 impaired drivers charged

o   Sheriff Jeff Topping (Gold) – 25 impaired drivers charged

Though not able to attend the ceremony, the following officers are also Cpl. Cummings Watch recipients: 

·         From the Medicine Hat Police Service:

o   Cst. Robert Angstadt (Gold) – 81 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Noel Darr (Silver) – 16 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. David Smith (Gold) – 27 impaired drivers charged
        AND (Gold) – 14 DRE evaluations

o   Cst. Jordan Wyton (Silver) – 15 impaired drivers charged

·         From the RCMP Coaldale Detachment:

o   Cst. Dave Payne (Silver) – 17 impaired drivers charged

o   Cst. Kyle Ruiters (Gold) – 38 impaired drivers charged

“Every impaired driver these officers take off our roads is another possible tragedy avoided,” states Anita Huchala, President of MADD Lethbridge and Area Chapter.  “A family may not have to mourn the loss of their loved one or suffer with serious injuries an impaired crash may have caused. In honour of Cpl Graeme Cumming, who was tragically killed in an impaired crash August 12, 1998 near Lethbridge, and the many victims and survivors caused by impaired driving across Canada, we are grateful for the efforts of not only these Officers who received awards today, but all the officers across Canada who are committed to ensuring our roads, waterways and back country trails are safe for us all.”

In Lethbridge alone, a total of 277 impaired drivers removed from Lethbridge roads in 2023, a decrease from the previous year of nearly 3%.