For the first time since 2020, members of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Patrol, the Centralia Police Department and the Napavine Police Department gathered together to recognize personnel for their work toward enforcing traffic safety in 2023.
“I know we’ve recognized people during those times, but I want to thank all the administrators, all the chiefs and everybody for being here. It really means a lot to your folks to represent them and for just being here and supporting them and traffic safety,” Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza said to the crowd of law enforcement personnel gathered at Bethel Church in Napavine on Friday for the 2023 Lewis County Traffic Safety Task Force Awards Dinner and Recognition Ceremony.
The Lewis County Traffic Safety Task Force, also known as the Lewis County Target Zero Task Force, is a group of law enforcement personnel in Lewis County that focuses on identifying and implementing ways to reduce traffic crashes and traffic-related injuries throughout Lewis County.
The task force is part of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC)’s statewide Target Zero program, which began in 2000 with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.
“As we enter 2024, we’re aimed at changing driver behavior,” Washington State Patrol Assistant Chief James Mjor said Friday. “The change needed? Slower speeds, 100% compliance with occupant safety belts, 100% distracted-free driving, 100% sobriety.”
The goal of Friday’s event was to recognize those who contributed toward achieving WTSC’s goal of reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries in Lewis County in 2023.
“Our fatality rate (in Lewis County) is up this year. I wish I could tell you why … but I can tell you, all the people here that are being recognized tonight are those individuals who are aggressively going after impaired drivers, those who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are speeding, you name it,” Mjor said.
The Lewis County Traffic Safety Task Force presented two main awards Friday night: the DUI Enforcement Award and the Traffic Safety Award.
The DUI Enforcement Award recognized law enforcement personnel with high numbers of DUI traffic stops and arrests.
“I think there’s nothing more important that you do as troopers or officers or deputies than the removement of impaired drivers from our roadways,” State Patrol Captain Jason Lam said on Friday.
DUI Enforcement Award winners are:
• State Patrol: Trooper Bret Calderone
• Mid-size agency: Centralia Police Officer Deter Voetberg
• Small-size agency: Napavine Police Officer Taylor Nichols
Other nominees were:
• Trooper Jace Steele
• Trooper Dustin Miloff
• Deputy Andrew Yocom
• Centralia Police Officer Daniel Cox
The Traffic Safety Award recognized law enforcement personnel who conducted safety-related traffic stops and engaged in community outreach to promote traffic safety.
Traffic Safety Award winners are:
• State Patrol: Trooper David Beeck
• Mid-size agency: Deputy Andrew Yocom
• Small-size agency: Napavine Police Officer Logan Macomber
Other nominees were:
• Trooper Jace Steele
• Trooper Dakota Russell
• Centralia Police Sergeant Buddy Croy
The Lewis County Traffic Safety Task Force awarded the Community Traffic Safety Award, which recognizes community members for their work to improve traffic safety in 2023, to the Mossyrock High School ASB, for a week-long project they conducted last spring.
Each day that week, ASB students and local law enforcement, including State Patrol troopers and officers with the Morton Police Department, went out and conducted emphasis patrols focused on speeding, distracted driving and seat belt usage.
Captain Jeff Godbey of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office presented the award to the ASB students and their principal Lori Cournyer during a pep assembly in February before many of the club’s members left for state playoffs.
Also recognized on Friday were the Lewis County DUI Victim Impact Panel, which sponsored the event; longtime District 3 Target Zero Manager Dianne Swanson, who retired last fall; and Michelle Pardue of Washington State Patrol, Stephanie Peters of Washington State Patrol, and Laura Hanson of the Riverside Fire Authority, who helped organize Safety City in January for local elementary students to learn safety basics.
“These people out here that we’re recognizing today are some of the finest officers that we have,” Snaza said Friday.
