Alexa’s Team grows to over 2,000 officers

Since its inception in 2008, Alexa’s Team has grown from 26 to over 2,000 RCMP and municipal police officers from all regions of British Columbia. In 2016, the number of team members grew provincially by 268.

MADD Canada, ICBC, the RCMP and supporters of Alexa’s Team are gathering at four events held around the province this spring to recognize those officers named to the 2016 Alexa’s Team.

Alexa’s Team is a program that recognizes dedicated police officers throughout B.C. who diligently work to reduce the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs. The team is named for Alexa Middelaer who was killed by an alcohol impaired driver in 2008, while feeding a horse with her aunt in Delta.

Alexa’s Team and provincial anti-impaired driving police initiatives are supported by Alexa’s Bus, the province’s mobile road safety unit (MRSU). The bus has been deployed 262 times in communities around the province since its launch in 2014 as an education and enforcement tool, helping police educate British Columbians about road safety, and removing impaired drivers from the road at the scene.

The RID 911 program, supported by communities, police services, MADD Canada and other road safety organizations, is another anti-impaired driving initiative that encourages the public to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers, and has been effective in helping police remove drivers affected by alcohol from the roads.

Alexa’s Team recognition events are held in Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George. Officers are personally thanked by Alexa’s family, road safety organizations and community leaders for their tireless work fighting impaired driving.

“I have been involved with Alexa’s Team in one form or another since its inception in 2008. To see the efforts of these police officers result in such a reduction of harm on our roadways year after year is a humbling reality. How many of our loved ones travelling on B.C’s roads everyday got home safely because one of the Alexa’s Team members stopped that impaired driver before that crash happened. It is really immeasurable and, on behalf of the South East District, I am so proud of the work they do. What more important task is there for a police officer than to save someone’s life and prevent a tragedy?” said Insp. Dale Somerville, RCMP South East District Traffic Services (East) OIC.

“We want to thank all of the dedicated Alexa’s Team police officers for their extraordinary commitment to getting impaired drivers off our roads. We all need to do our part to keep roads safe – plan ahead if your activities involve alcohol and arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or take transit,” noted ICBC’s Director Responsible for Road Safety, Lindsay Matthews.

“MADD Canada’s Chapters and Community Leaders across the province partner with law enforcement to promote the sober driving message, and we know how dedicated they are to keeping our communities safe. We are proud to support Alexa’s Team, and to recognize and thank the remarkable officers who work so hard to take impaired drivers off the roads,” said Patricia Hynes-Coates, MADD Canada National President.

“Each year we are encouraged, inspired and respectful of the work that these officers do to keep our roads and communities safe. To know that our daughter Alexa is a source of inspiration to these committed men and women is humbling, and their dedication to go above and beyond is very meaningful to the Middelaer family. Thank you for this sunshine in our lives. Well done Alexa’s Team 2016,” stated Laurel Middelaer, Alexa’s mother and road safety advocate.

Since 2008 Alexa’s Team members have processed more than 79,379 impaired driving sanctions for alcohol and drug related driving offences.

2016 Alexa’s Team – Cranbrook

Cst. Vince Bixby             East Kootenay IRSU

Cst. Robert Roy            East Kootenay Traffic Services  All-Star

Cst. Michelle Joy            East Kootenay Traffic Services

Total impaired drivers removed = 101

* All-Star team members are the top impaired driving investigators in the province. Each has taken at least 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2016.

Learn More  

Alcohol and Drug Related Prohibitions and Suspensions

RoadSafetyBC Preliminary Report on Alcohol Related Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Above photo: 2016 Alexa’s Team members from the south east district honoured at Quigley Elementary School in Kelowna on May 10 for their work to reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths in B.C.

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