MADD Virginia E-Newsletter                                                       January 2025

Virginia Law Enforcement Awards 2024

On December 12, law enforcement agencies located throughout the state of Virginia gathered for a luncheon to honor 225 officers who have shown their dedication to end impaired driving. Some of these officers have the most DUI arrests for their department, some are part of a DUI Task Force, some have pursued specialized training, and some have conducted specialized training. ALL are HEROs to us for their efforts.

 

Christopher Mazzucca, with the Newport News Police Department, won the Richmond Ford Award for most DUI arrests this year. Lt Robert Netherland won The Carter Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Rotary Club of South Richmond.

 

Thank you to our speakers, Lt Colonel Matthew Hanley, Frank Enko, and our victim speaker, Tammy Duffy. Thank you to our emcee, Aimee Malloy from State Farm. Thank you to all our sponsors, including our event sponsor, State Farm and our award sponsors, Richmond Ford and Rotary Club of South Richmond. Lastly, thank you to all the awardees, their loved ones, and everyone else who was able to attend this year’s law enforcement awards.

 

Pictures from this event are on our MADD VA Facebook page. A complete list of winners is here.

 

Susan Julian’s PSA

 

MADD Virginia spoke with Susan Julian about the loss of her daughter, Samantha Julian, due to a drunk driving crash. She spoke about how this event has affected her and her family, as well as why people should not drink and drive. To view this PSA, please click here.

 

For Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and MADD Virginia are teaming up to remind drivers: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Get ahead of the game and create your plan now. If you’re going out to a Super Bowl party and you plan to drink alcohol, make sure you plan for a designated driver to get you home safely at the end of the night. If you’re hosting a party, prepare plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options for your guests, especially for the designated drivers. If you’re a designated driver, be the night’s MVP and keep that commitment front and center. Source

Click here for more information.

Impaired Driving Stories

Driver in Westmoreland Crash Charged with DUI and Involuntary Manslaughter

Alcohol and Speed Believed Factors in Reston Crash

Survey: Many Virginia Drivers Believe Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Safer

Stafford Sheriff’s Office Locates Driver Under Influence Who Crashed and Left Scene

Maryland Community College Police Chief Arrested for DUI Maiming in Fairfax

Grieving Parents Advocate for Responsible Driving

Intoxicated Driver Speeding Over 110mph Charged December 5 - Fatal Crash

Speed and Alcohol Factors in Eastern Henrico Crash

Virginia Officials Highlight Risks Of Driving While High in New Study

Calendar

From our MADD family to yours, happy new year! We are hoping this year, you will be able to join us for our monthly virtual support group. Joanne, our Regional Manager of Victim Services in Maryland, and myself host the group through Microsoft Teams. It offers dedicated time and space for victims and survivors of impaired driving. Folks can share their experience, listen to others, and support one another. These meetings are at no cost and participation is completely voluntary. We would love to see you there. If you have any questions or would like to connect, please email me at [email protected]

2/19/2025 – MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group via Teams at 12:00 pm

Meeting Link: Click Here

Meeting ID: 268 095 935 126

Passcode: PN36kt6X

MADD Around Virginia

National Ambassador, Tammy Duffy, speaking at Virginia’s Law Enforcement Awards.

This newsletter is supported by a federal highway safety grant administered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.