Police officers honored by traffic safety council

Two Cape Girardeau police officers were recognized this week for their work in law enforcement.

Lt. Jack Wimp and Cpl. Kevin Eudy received the awards Wednesday during the Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Advisory Council annual state conference, according to a news release from the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded Wimp the People Saving People award for his work on creating the Prevention and Community Education project.

The project, which was implemented April 24, addresses high school students on the dangers of underage drinking. As part of the PACE program, students perform sobriety tests while wearing goggles that alter their vision to simulate a blood-alcohol content level of 0.17 percent.

Wimp also organized an informational program that travels throughout Southeast Missouri using police officers and volunteers to educate other officers and schools on the seriousness of traffic safety issues relating to youths, the release stated.

Both of the lieutenant's programs shared information on improving safe driving, using safety belts and the increasing the importance of not driving while intoxicated.

Eudy received the Missouri Traffic Officer of the Year Award for Large Departments from the council, according to the release. He was recognized for his work in traffic enforcement, crash investigations, training and safety programs.

In 2005, Eudy issued 1,176 citations and served as a sobriety checkpoint supervisor and serious traffic crash reconstructionist.

The corporal is also a PACE project and Missouri Motorcycle Safety instructor, according to the release.

Eudy was one of only three people to receive the award this year, said Lt. John Davis, former chairman of the council. This was the first time a Cape Girardeau officer had received an award from the council, he said.

"These are kind of rare, and few and far between to get," police Sgt. Barry Hovis said of the awards.

The last time anyone from the Cape Girardeau Police Department was awarded at the annual conference was in 2003, where Sharee Galnore received the administration's People Saving People award for her work in the Safe Communities Program.

In 1995, Galnore and chief Carl Kinnison received an award of excellence by the administration for the same program, which was recognized as one of the top 10 in the nation.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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