Officer recognized for his work
The “Alexa’s Team” program was developed in the wake of the death of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer.
She was struck and killed by an impaired driver. Since her death, the men and women who police the province have been challenged to remove impaired drivers from the roadways.
In order to be named to “Alexa’s Team” you must have achieved a minimum of 20 such removals, either through an immediate roadside prohibition, or through Criminal Code charges.
Laurel Middelaer, Alexa’s mother, said that when the program was first launched in 2008, she and her husband hoped that by 2013 (when Alexa would have turned 10) the program could achieve a 35 per cent drop in fatalities caused by impaired drivers. That goal has been surpassed, as the most recent numbers indicate there has been a 46 per cent reduction in such deaths.
On April 29, Cst. Matt Andreasen of the Oliver RCMP was recognized at a ceremony in Kelowna as one of this year’s recipients of the Alexa’s Team for his dedicated effort in keeping roads safe.
In 2013, Cst. Andreasen removed 28 violators from the streets. These incidents consisted of both immediate roadside prohibitions and 24 hour suspensions.
Well Done, Matt!
Bicycle recovered
On April 29 a red Raleigh bicycle was dropped off at the Oliver RCMP detachment.
The bike had been recovered from the gravel parking lot near Tucelnuit Lake.
The owner can claim the bike by providing further descriptors for RCMP file # 2014-1693.
