June 2004 Respect for Law Award Luncheon

Respect for Law is an Optimist Club event for many clubs around the nation. The event inspires a healthy admiration for local law enforcement officials.

This year six law enforcement entities were represented: MN Highway Patrol (Captain Dick Wittenberg), ND Highway Patrol (Captain Gary Orluck), Grand Forks Police Department (Chief John Packett), Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department (Sheriff Dan Hill), UND Police Department (Lieutenant Don Rasmuson), and East Grand Forks Police Department (Sergeant Bill Solem). Each agency was presented a plaque for their law enforcement efforts especially those relating to youth. The Polk County Sheriff's Department also received an award but was unable to attend the luncheon.

Additional awards were presented by the Safe Communities Coalition to officers who have placed a working emphasis in the following areas: most Seatbelt/Child Restraint citations (award presented to Trooper Greg Smith with 272 citations in 2003), most Impaired Driving arrests (award presented to Trooper Aaron Hummel with 56 arrests in 2003), most Right of Way citations (award presented to Officer Nicholas Sonsalla with 67 citations in 2003), and most speed citations (award presented to Trooper Brandon Solberg with 880 citations in 2003). In addition, Officer Dave O'Toole was presented an award for being the facilitator for the city-wide Server Training class.

The Respect for Law luncheon also sponsored a competitive game of Jeopardy which included community facts and general community knowledge. The winning agency received a $100 donation to the charity of their choice. The East Grand Forks Police Department was the winning agency and a check will be made payable to the YMCA.

All in all, the event was a success. Grand Forks Optimist Club and the Safe Communities Coalition look forward to next year's Respect for Law event.