Law enforcement officers honored for their work to keep drunk drivers off roads

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – In a gesture of appreciation and recognition, area police officers, sheriff deputies, and a State Trooper were honored Monday for their dedication to impaired driving enforcement across the Brazos Valley.

An awards luncheon was held at Christ Church in College Station to present 10 recipients with awards in the 2024 Brazos Valley Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards Luncheon.

The honorees were selected based on nominations from their agency supervisors, evaluating criteria such as the number of impaired driving arrests, the quality of investigation logistics, evidence maintenance support, and their role in training and educating peers to produce well-documented case reports. Consistent effective courtroom testimony leading to impaired driving convictions was also a key factor.

Among this year’s recipients:

Officer Delta PantojaBryan Police DepartmentDeputy Enrique PadronBrazos County Sheriff’s OfficeOfficer Zachary JohnsCollege Station Police DepartmentOfficer Lindsey KindtSomerville Police DepartmentOfficer Evan PetersonNavasota Police DepartmentDeputy Gene OsbornGrimes County Sheriff’s OfficeOfficer Marcelo AguillonCameron Police DepartmentOfficer Kameron AlexanderHuntsville Police DepartmentTrooper Eric WilliamsTexas Highway PatrolSergeant Troy MetcalfTexas A&M University Police Department

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In a special segment of the event, Carlos Champion, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), received the 2024 “BeABlake Award.” This award honors his outstanding service in educating law enforcement professionals on eliminating drug-impaired driving, thereby enhancing community safety. Jackie Rhone of the BeABlake Foundation presented the award that is named in memory of her son, Blake Rhone-Subinsky, a former Sam Houston State graduate and baseball athlete who tragically lost his life to a drug-impaired driver in 2021.

The event was organized by Sergeant Austin Stearns of the Bryan Police Department, Christine Adams, MBA, and Mary Jo Prince, Project Specialist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service/Watch UR BAC Alcohol & Drug Awareness Education Programs, alongside Julia Davies from the TxDOT Bryan District Brazos Valley Coalition.

The Brazos County First Responders Association was underwriting the meals for the honorees and their guests.