By John Tredrea, Special Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — One of the most important laws police officers are charged with enforcing is the one against drunken driving.
Lambertville Police Department Sgt. Robert Brown has been honored for outstanding work in that vein.
Sgt. Brown was among 25 officers honored by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety for outstanding performance in DWI enforcement April 24.
He received his award in a ceremony at the Trenton War Memorial. The ceremony also paid tribute to victims and families impacted by alcohol or drug- impaired drivers.
Lambertville Mayor David Del Vecchio extended hearty kudos to the sergeant.
”Both I and the City Council members are extremely proud of Sgt. Brown,” the mayor said.
He noted, “Receiving this award is truly an outstanding achievement, He is indeed one of Lambertville’s finest. Nothing protects our residents and our property better than keeping drunken drivers off the road. Sgt. Brown deserves to be commended for leading that effort.”
The “Top Gun Award” Sgt. Brown received is presented to officers who led their respective counties in drunken driving arrests over the calendar year.
”In light of the nearly 13,000 lives lost each year to impaired drivers, the impact of vigorous DWI enforcement upon public safety cannot be overstated,” said Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza. “Thousands of lives are saved each year by police officers who take drunken drivers off the road every day. This is absolutely one of the most important enforcement functions we perform.”
The annual event during which the award ceremony took place is “New Jersey Remembers.” It commemorates the lives of several victims during an emotional remembrance in which family members and friends, who have lost loved ones to an impaired driver, participate in a processional, escorted by the award-winning police officers.
The families displayed photos of their loved ones, carried lit candles and spoke about their tragic losses.
New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky hosted the program, which also included remarks from New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. Louis P. Klock, Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton and Jill Morrison, whose brother, Guy Fleming, was killed by a drunken driver.
Invited guests included several county prosecutors, law enforcement agency heads and representatives from MADD, substance abuse prevention organizations and other traffic safety advocate groups.
Along with Director Cocuzza, Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives John Kuczynski accompanied Sgt. Brown to the stage to receive the award certificate.

