Lacey Police Officer Honored For Efforts To Fight Drunk Driving

Lacey Police Officer Michael Verwey has a talent for spotting drunk drivers.

And that's why he was named a top finalist in the 2016 Kimberly Smith Ames DWI Prevention Award,which is presented each year by the Ocean County Police Traffic Safety Officers Association and Kimberly's family.

Verwey is a 12-year veteran police officer. He was hired by the Lacey Township Police Department in 2013 and has been assigned to the patrol division where he makes DUI enforcement a top priority, Lacey Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said.

Before he came to Lacey, Verwey was a Burlington City Police Department officer, a Medford Township Police Department (seven years), and the Waterford Township Police Department (one year). Officer Verwey is a member for the Ocean County Fatal Accident Support Team (FAST) and a member for the Southern Ocean County SWAT team.

"So far in 2016, Officer Verwey has accounted for 20 percent of all DUI arrests in Lacey Township," DiBella said.

"Officer Verwey is regularly recognized by his peers for his dedication to DUI Enforcement," the chief said. "His nomination for this year’s Kimberly Smith Ames Award was well deserved. Officer Verwey is an asset to our agency and I look forward to his continued commitment to protecting the citizens of Lacey Township from drunk drivers."

Officer Verwey was a 2014 Kimberly Smith Ames award winner, and a previous recipient for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award. In addition, while employed for the Burlington City Police Department, he participated in the National Law Enforcement Challenge Project, sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and received second place.

The award is named in honor of Kimberly Smith Ames, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver on October 7, 1998. She was 23. The crash not only took Kimberly’s life, but that of her unborn child. This award was created by Ed and Carol Smith in memory of their daughter, and to honor the hard work and determination of an Ocean County police officer who has demonstrated a strong commitment toward the effort of stopping drunk driving in their jurisdiction, DiBella said.

The top honor for 2016 went to Officer Michael Kelly of the Jackson Township Police Department.

Image: Lacey Township Police Department