Mothers Against Drunk Driving Michigan holds a Lifesavers Recognition Luncheon each year that highlights individuals who embrace MADD’s mission to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.
This year Deputy Yono was awarded the Outstanding Officer Award which is defined as an Officers who made a difference in 2021 in the area(s) of education, prevention, policy, or enforcement which reduced impaired driving deaths and injuries.
Deputy Webb received the Recognition of Excellence Award which is defined as an individual or agency working in the area(s) of education, prevention, or innovation to reduce impaired driving in 2021. This might include new or significant approaches to reducing impaired driving or going above and beyond the normal bounds of duty to address impaired driving issues.
Yono – Outstanding Officer
In 2021, despite significant staffing shortages, mandatory overtime and COVID-19 concerns, Deputy Jeremy Yono used his time in York Township, to make a huge impact on impaired driving. Jeremy was assigned to road patrol, as the lone deputy on his shift, also responsible for handling all calls for service in that area. Although he is a young deputy, he immediately recognized a significant issue with impaired drivers in the small community. Of the 313 impaired driving arrests by Washtenaw County deputies in 2021, Jeremy was a leader in enforcement efforts. Jeremy made an astounding 743 traffic stops, which included 47 arrests for OWI, OUID and Impaired driving. His dedication and motivation to keeping impaired drivers off the streets of Washtenaw County, undoubtedly prevented and reduced deaths and injuries.
Additionally, while heading home from the 2021 MADD luncheon, Deputy Yono witnessed a horrific traffic crash on US-127 in Lansing, involving a rolled over Class A RV. The RV was flipped on its side and the driver had apparent injuries. With the assistance of some selfless citizens, Jeremy forced entry into the cabin through the windshield, first rescuing the elderly male driver. He quickly learned that an elderly female was in the back of the RV, on oxygen and likely injured. As he climbed through the RV, the slide collapsed on him, injuring his shoulder and temporarily pinning him. Then the unthinkable, the RV caught fire near the slide. Yono fought his way through the wreckage to the rear compartment, where he found the injured woman (both shoulders broken) and remained with her, despite her dog biting him several times on his arms. He stayed with the woman for nearly 40 minutes while fire crews worked to cut them free.
Webb – Recognition of Excellence
Deputy Brian Webb is a 12-year veteran of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to road patrol and Traffic Services. He is a DRE and ARIDE instructor and trains new prosecutors during impaired driving seminars. He is the head SFST Instructor for Schoolcraft College and has instructed over 2,500 police recruits, since 2011. Brian takes impaired driving enforcement very seriously, as he sees the tragic results of impaired driving while investigating more than a dozen traffic fatalities each year. Brian’s own dedication to impaired driving enforcement, resulted in 48 drugged/drunk driving arrests in 2021. Brian provides coaching and mentoring to the new deputies and is passionate about passing his knowledge onto the next generation of police officers. This year, Brian started a new impaired and distracted driving education program for his local drivers ed program.