Congratulations to CSLEA Member and ABC Agent Michelle Ott who earned  a Hero Award by Mothers Against Drunk Driving ­ (MADD) for her efforts to save lives by enforcing alcoholic beverage control and driving under the influence (DUI) laws.

Agent Ott is assigned to the Bay Area Field Enforcement Office, covering Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Solano Counties.

In 2014,  she made 54 arrests for crimes related to underage drinking, which included:

• violations of selling alcohol to minors,
• minors possessing alcohol,
• and minors possessing false identification.

36 arrests for other alcohol-related crime, including:

• public drunkenness
•  and sales to intoxicated patrons occurring at and around ABC licensed businesses.

And 7 arrests for DUI on the highways.

“I am honored to receive the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hero Award on behalf of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.  Every DUI arrest makes our streets safer and this is just one way our agency makes a positive difference in our communities,”  said Agent Michelle Ott.      

"There's no question in my mind that this type of enforcement makes us all safer," said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  "Congratulations to Agent Ott for her dedication to public safety and for receiving the MADD Hero Award.  Too many lives are damaged or cut short by DUI and underage drinking."

 "ABC agents see, first-hand, on a daily basis the dangerous things that can  happen when ABC laws are broken," said California Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents (CABCA) President and CSLEA Board Director Kevin Highbaugh.  "Our agents work throughout the day, night, weekends and holidays out on the streets, undercover inside bars and  restaurants and at entertainment venues to curb underage drinking, DUI, illegal drugs and weapons, gang and illegal gambling activity.  In many cases we work with  local law enforcement officers to improve the quality of life in their communities.  Congratulations to Agent Ott for her work in 2014 and her continued work this year."

The officers recognized with the MADD California Hero Award are experts in the field of impaired driving enforcement. They are leaders in the department in arrests, prevention efforts, and training. Over 140 officers (statewide) were recognized for the efforts over the last year and we believe that all of the officers have certainly saved lives by removing impaired drivers from California’s roads,” said Aaron Wade, MADD California Law Enforcement Specialist.