Const. Sheldon Herman of the Osoyoos RCMP Detachment once again was named to ‘Alexa’s Team’ as an all-star for removing 70 impaired drivers from the roads in 2017. Some years he’s nabbed more than 100.(Richard McGuire photo)

Once again, Osoyoos RCMP Constable Sheldon Herman was named to “Alexa’s Team” as an all-star for taking more than 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2017.

Herman removed 70 impaired drivers in total during 2017, according to a news release from Alexa’s Team.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the death of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer by an impaired driver in Delta, B.C.

Alexa’s team was formed the same year, in 2008, as an anti-impaired-driving program to recognize police officers throughout B.C. who are committed to reducing the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs.

In the past 10 years, Alexa’s Team has grown from 26 members to 2,400 new and returning RCMP and municipal police officers from all corners of the province.

Overall, more than 86,534 drivers affected by alcohol or drugs have been removed from the streets, roads and highways of this province by Alexa’s Team members since 2008.

MADD Canada, ICBC, the RCMP and supporters of Alexa’s Team are gathering this spring at four events held around the province to recognize those officers named to the 2017 Alexa’s Team.

Events will be held in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George, where officers will be greeted and personally thanked for their work fighting impaired drivers by Middelaer’s family, road safety organizations and community leaders.

To be named to Alexa’s Team, an officer must take at least 12 impaired drivers off the road in the previous year.

Const. Herman was also named to Alexa’s Team as an all-star last year for removing well over 100 impaired drivers from the road.

Herman joined the Osoyoos RCMP Detachment in 2016 after previously serving in Kelowna.

Both his parents served with the RCMP. His father was struck by an impaired driver, suffering injuries that Herman believes ultimately contributed to his death.

In 2012, while serving in Kelowna, Herman arrested 148 people for impaired driving.

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