After nearly a year of enforcing impaired-driving laws, an awards banquet took place this week in

After nearly a year of enforcing impaired-driving laws, an awards banquet took place this week in Canfield to recognize members of the Mahoning County Operating Vehicle Impaired Task Force. The following departments participated: Austintown, Beaver, Boardman, Canfield, Goshen, Jackson, Lake Milton State Park, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, New Middletown, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Poland Township, Poland Village, Springfield, Washingtonville, Youngstown and Youngstown State University. Some key awards:

“Top Cop” Award, sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Sgt. Michael Golec, Goshen; Sgt. Nakia Hendricks, Ohio State Highway Patrol; Sgt. Steven McDaniels, Goshen; Officer Lance Malone, Canfield; Officer Brian Newhard, Jackson; Detective Sgt. Glenn Patton, Boardman; Officer Tracy Polak, Poland Village; Officer Steven Schneider, Jackson; Officer Josh Wells, Canfield; Chief James Willock, Goshen; Sgt. Jordan Yacovone, Austintown; and Officer John Gocala, Boardman.

Certificates of Excellence for OVI: Boardman, Canfield, Goshen and Jackson.

Certificate of Excellence, top safety belt citation: Goshen.

Certificate of Excellence, top OVI arrests: Canfield.

Saturation patrols: 110 arrests were made so far during the grant year, Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, with 387 arrests since inception in October 2004.

Sobriety checkpoints: 13,173 cars were stopped and 47 arrests were made so far during the grant year. In all, for 15 checkpoints, 49,107 cars were stopped and 117 arrests made since inception of October 2004.

Zero-tolerance blitz patrols: 57 arrests were made so far during the grant year. This is the first year of running blitzes.

Source: Compiled by Tracy Styka, task force coordinator