Hauppauge, NY -- Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and the County’s STOP-DWI Program honored police officers throughout the county who recorded the highest number of drunk driving arrests last year at a special awards ceremony earlier this month.

The annual STOP-DWI Top Cop ceremony, which was held on February 11 at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, recognized 22 officers from 20 police agencies for their efforts. In 2009, 5,035 individuals were arrested for drunk driving throughout the county. In addition, 939 vehicles were taken off the road under the county’s DWI vehicle seizure program.

“Most significantly,” said Levy, “the number of DWI-related fatalities in 2009 declined to 47, from 54 the year before.”

“The drunk driving epidemic continues to threaten our safety and well being. Fortunately, the police officers we honor today have committed themselves to removing these dangerous drunk drivers from our roads, saving countless of innocent lives in the process,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. “As County Executive, it is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to thank and honor these officers for making our county safer for all who live and visit here.”

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes.  Stricter drunk driving laws, stiffer penalties, and public awareness campaigns have all contributed significantly to reducing the rate of alcohol-related fatalities over the past 25 years. Law enforcement officers provide the only front-line defense the public has against someone who is intoxicated and driving on our roads. Each time a police officer stops and arrests a drunk driver, the officer is preventing that person from causing injury or death to themselves or another.

The officers accepted their awards and proclamations from the county executive at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. They were joined at the ceremony by the Suffolk County police commissioner, various town and village police chiefs, representatives from the New York State and Suffolk County police and park police, members of Suffolk County Legislature, representatives from the district attorney’s office, and members of the Long Island Chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), as well as family and friends.

Suffolk County’s Top Cops (by Agency) for 2009 are:

Suffolk County’s “Top Cop” for 2009 (most overall arrests made by individual officer) was Officer Robert Scudellari, of the Suffolk County Highway Patrol SAFE-T Team.

• Officer Derrick Hall, Suffolk County Police Department – 1st Precinct

• Officer Kenneth McHugh, Suffolk County Police Department –2nd Precinct

• Officer Ari Hirsch, Suffolk County Police Department – 3rd Precinct

• Officer Douglas Nassisi, Suffolk County Police Department – 4th Precinct

• Officer Timothy Vicinanza, Suffolk County Police Department – 5th Precinct

• Officer Sharon Savoy-Likewis, Suffolk County Police Department – 6th Precinct

• Officer Brandon Neal, Suffolk County Police Department – 7th Precinct

• Officer Thomas Pescitelli, Amityville Village

• Officer John Galvin, Quogue Village

• Officer Thomas Pagano, Sag Harbor Village

• Officer Kimberleigh McMahon, Southampton Village

• Officer Vincent Rantinella, Town of East Hampton

• Officer Michael Coleman, Town of East Hampton

• Officer Thomas Cronin, Town of Shelter Island

• Officer David Driscoll, Town of Southampton

• Officer Steven Zuhoski, Town of Southold

• Officer Timothy Murphy, Town of Riverhead

• Officer Gregory Sandbichler, Suffolk County Parks Police Department

• Officer Kevin Space, Suffolk County Parks Police Department

• Trooper David Ferreby, New York State Police

• Deputy Sheriff Vincent Aparicio, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department

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