Six officers of the Revelstoke RCMP Detachment and Traffic Services Unit were among 80 Mounties from the South East District who were honoured on Tuesday, April 29, for their part in reducing the number of alcohol and drug related deaths on BC Highways. Team Alexa was created by the family of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer who was tragically killed by an impaired driver in 2008. The program is a partnership between the RCMP, BC Ministry of Justice, BCAA, ICBC, and the BC Attorney General to reduce the number of deaths caused by alcohol and/or drug impaired drivers by 35 percent by the end of 2013. To date 313 Team Alexa Members have surpassed that number to achieve a 52 percent decrease in deaths on our highways. This means 190 lives have been saved. Constables Gary McLaughlin (TCETS), Jason Spielman (IRSU), Gord Just, Dave Segers, Ted Yadernuk (TCETS), and Corporal Mike Wasylenki (TCETS), were honoured by Laurel Middelaer (center), Alexa’s mother, at a ceremony in Kelowna and collectively have taken over 100 impaired drivers off highways in our area. Photo courtesy of the Revelstoke RCMP
