Albany Officer Named MADD 'Hero'

Albany Police Officer Chris Beck is among the officers honored with this year's "MADD California Hero Award" in the campaign against drunk driving, the Albany police department announced.

Beck was one of the officers honored Saturday at the MADD California Statewide Law Enforcement & Community Recognition Dinner – One Step at a Time, held at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. MADD is known also as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

More than 500 people from across the state attended the dinner, where awards were presented to "individual officers, departments, state park agencies, media, and community partners whose actions and policies are aligned with MADD’s mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking," said a news release prepared by Albany Police Chief  Mike McQuiston.

Beck "has been instrumental to our department’s DUI enforcement efforts over the past 5 years," the release said. "He has arrested over 370 DUI offenders in and around our community since he started his career in 2005. He is our certified Drug Recognition Expert and court recognized expert witness in DUI testimony. Beck is the previous recipient of six MADD Alameda County awards, and three Avoid the 21 Alameda County awards. He regularly participates in special enforcement efforts including DUI Saturation patrols, DUI check points, and DUI warrant services."

Silas Miers, MADD California Program Manager, was quoted as saying, "The officers recognized with the MADD California Hero Award are experts in the field of impaired driving enforcement. They are leaders in the department in arrests, prevention efforts, and training. Over 160 officers were recognized for the efforts over the last year and we believe that all of the officers have certainly saved lives by removing impaired drivers from California’s roads.”   

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