Police

Riverhead officer among the top DWI-catching cops again

Timothy Murphy (center, holding plaque) has been named a top DWI cop again. (Credit: courtesy)
Timothy Murphy (center, holding plaque) has been named a top DWI cop again. (Credit: courtesy)

For the third year running, Riverhead Town police officer Timothy Murphy has been named the department’s top DWI-catching cop.

Mr. Murphy, along with 21 other officers and sheriffs across Suffolk County, were honored Tuesday for making the most drunken driving arrests in their departments.

“These officers have saved hundreds of lives by making DWI a priority and arresting those individuals who make the irresponsible decision to drink and drive,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways.”

For Mr. Murphy it was the third straight year he was named a top DWI cop, and the fourth time he was honored since 2010.

Police in Suffolk County made more than 3,800 drunk driving arrests in 2014 and more than 14,000 DWI arrests in the past 3 years. Last year, 45 people were killed in the county by drunk drivers, authorities said.

But in the past two years, Suffolk County has experienced a 25 percent decline in arrests and a quarter fewer fatalities due to drunk driving.

Other local cops were also honored at Tuesday’s event, including Southold Town police officer Rory Flatley, Shelter Island officer Christopher Drake and Southampton Town officer Carl Schottenhamel.

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