Buckeye's streets may be a little safer thanks to one officer's vigilant efforts against drunk driving. Officer Carri Carrico was heralded for her exceptional commitment to DUI enforcement when she was presented with the MADD Hero award by the nonprofit organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as reported by the City of Buckeye. The accolade was handed out during a ceremony this past Friday, singling out Carrico's dedication in an area of law enforcement that, too often, can be the difference between life and death.
In her role as a patrol officer, Carrico is no stranger to various forms of emergency calls; her responsibilities run the gamut from performing welfare checks to responding to violent incidents. The Buckeye Police Department shared that in 2024 alone, she was involved in nearly 35 DUI investigations and culminated in 27 DUI arrests, outpacing her colleagues in the department. This impressive tally has not come without effort; Carrico has invested in specialized training to better her proficiency in the field, achieving certifications in Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, moreover becoming a Drug Recognition Expert.
The recognition by MADD not only highlights an individual officer's contributions but also shines a light on the broader efforts taken by law enforcement to mitigate the impact of impaired driving on communities. Officer Carrico's achievements stand as a testament to the Buckeye Police Department's broader commitment to road safety, as it proudly champions her recent accomplishments.
With every DUI stop and subsequent arrest, Carrico and her fellow officers are at the frontline of defensive action seeking to shield the public from the avoidable tragedies that can result from impaired driving. The Buckeye community, thus, rests a little more securely knowing that officers like Carrico are out there, doing the meticulous and sometimes thankless work of keeping drunk drivers off the road. In the words of the Buckeye Police Department, her "actions have helped prevent crashes and protect innocent lives."
