Last Thursday, an Eden Prairie Police Department officer was recognized for his commitment to keeping the roads safe from impaired drivers. Officer Chad Streiff was awarded the Gold Medallion award by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a distinction that honors law enforcement officials who make over 100 DWI arrests in a year. Streiff surpassed this benchmark with a total of 129 arrests in 2024, around 30% of which were due to drug impairment, according to an EPPD blog post.
However, the accolades for Officer Streiff didn't stop there; he also received MADD’s Outstanding Service Award for his exceptional efforts. Being drug-impaired was involved in approximately 30% of his arrests. Streiff was commended for his dedication to educating others about the dangers of impaired driving, among others. "Officer Streiff epitomizes the utmost in passion and drive for DWI enforcement and realizes the importance of training the next group of dedicated enforcers," EPPD Sgt. Tom Lowery stated in his nomination for Streiff, as detailed on the EPPD blog.
Officer Streiff's work is further supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, which allows him to serve full-time in the role of a DWI officer. This funding is critical to enable dedicated professionals like Streiff to focus on the pervasive issue of impaired driving which poses immense threats to community safety.
In the face of such a persistent and potentially devastating problem, the recognition of Officer Streiff is a poignant reminder of the individuals who labor tirelessly to combat the scourge of impaired driving. Educating youth and their parents on the risks and the reality of driving while impaired is a task no less imperative than the enforcement of the law, according to the EPPD. The work of officers like Streiff, who received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to be trained as a full-time DWI officer, is a testament to the ongoing battle against a threat that constantly endangers lives on our roads.
