Lynnwood is still a bad place to drink and drive.
The Lynnwood Police Department is ranked fourth in the state among law enforcement agencies statewide for pulling over drunk drivers. Lynnwood officers removed 710 drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs last year.
The department on March 15 received the Gayle Whitsell Award for being an “aggressive leader with respect to the fight against impaired drivers,” according to the Snohomish County DUI Task Force.
In Washington State, the top three agencies for stopping drunk drivers are the Washington State Patrol, Seattle Police Department and King County Sheriff’s Office.
The department owes much of its success to two Lynnwood police officers, who were honored by the task force that day.
Lynnwood Officer Mark Brinkman received the Norma Thompson Award for removing the highest number of impaired drivers from the roadways of Snohomish County. In 2005, Brinkman cited or arrested 243 impaired drivers, which is about 10 times more than the average police officer in other jurisdictions, police said.
Lynnwood Officer Paul Bryan received an award for removing 175 impaired drivers during 2005.
The task force also handed out awards to a Mountlake Terrace police officer, a Mountlake Terrace police supervisor and Mountlake Terrace traffic engineer for their efforts in traffic safety and drunk driving enforcement.
Mountlake Terrace traffic engineer Kirk Roberts received an award for putting in the extra time and effort — including working on weekends — to make sure school zone improvements were completed on time. Otherwise, the city would have had to return the $65,000 grant from the state Traffic Safety Commission..
He coordinated the installation of flashing crosswalk signs, surface improvements at four crosswalks and updated and repositioned school zone signs. The improvements occurred at Cedar Way Elementary (39th Avenue and 220th Street), Evergreen Elementary (236th Street near Interstate 5), Mountlake Terrace Elementary (52nd Avenue and 220th Street), Mountlake Terrace High School (44th Avenue and 217th Street), Terrace Park School (56th Avenue and 228th Street), St. Pius School (58th Avenue and 220th Street) and North Sound Christian School (236th Street and 54th Avenue).
The city of Mountlake Terrace also took the opportunity to add flashing crosswalks at four locations, 56th Avenue near St. Pius; 56th Avenue at 228th Street; 44th Avenue at 220th Street and 228th Street at 42nd Place West.
Also in Mountlake Terrace, traffic officer Mike Hoeth, who is responsible for his department’s critical traffic investigations, was acknowledged for his dedication and professionalism. Mountlake Terrace police supervisor Joie Worthen, who works with the DUI Task Force, was recognized for her hard work and creativity.
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