GREENSBURG, In. – Law Enforcement Officers from throughout Decatur County were recognized for their individual efforts to keep roadways safe from Alcohol and Drug Impaired Drivers. This inaugural awards banquet honored officers from the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Greensburg Police Department, and the Indiana State Police represented the top level enforcers. Partner Mainsource Bank provided their facilities for the awards venue.
The Decatur County Community Actions Coalition is the housing agency for the Local Coordinating Council (LCC) of Decatur County. Every County in Indiana has a LCC by law and is responsible for developing and supporting a county-wide plan to affect drug and alcohol abuse within the County. The LCC receives its funding through Court fines and fees from convicted drug and alcohol offenses to provided funding in three categories: Justice, Prevention, and Treatment.
Santos Cotez, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (Retired), was the guest speaker for the inaugural banquet. Cortez was forced to medically retire from IMPD after he was struck by a drunk driver while searching for a vehicle that had struck multiple vehicles and left the scene. Cortez was struck by the driver he was searching for, who later tested .39 BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration). In the crash Cortez was ejected from the vehicle where his back was broken, paralyzing him from the waist down and ending his law enforcement career.
Recognized were: Nick Hadler and Patrick Richards of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Steven Hershberger, Matt Terkhorn, and Eric Lusk of the Greensburg Police Department. Trooper James (Jamie) Herbert was recognized as the leading enforcement officer for 2017 with sixty-three (63) arrests for Operating While Intoxicated.
Terkhorn and Herbert are both Certified Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) who have completed over three weeks of intensive classroom and hands-on training to recognize drug-impaired drivers. Both Officers acknowledged how the DRE training not only helps them to recognize drug-impaired drivers but alcohol-impaired drivers as well which contributes to their abilities to be top performers.
Decatur County Prosecutor Nathan Harter as a supporter of the officer’s efforts attended to demonstrate the Prosecutor’s Office partnership with the Community Action Coalition. The Office assists with data information for the awards and the prosecution of the offenders arrested by the Officers recognized for their enforcement efforts.
