Ferris State University alumnus Shane Waskevich can still recall a tragic yet formative 2018 experience while on patrol.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department patrolman remembers a fatal crash that strengthened his resolve to keep people from driving under the influence, protecting themselves and other drivers.

“I witnessed a rollover that took the 16-year-old driver’s life that night,” said Waskevich, a Midland native and Ferris State School of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Academy graduate. “It had an obvious and direct effect which has steeled me to do all I can to eliminate drunk driving through my work in enforcement and training.”

Recently, Waskevich repeated as Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Michigan Outstanding Officer of the Year, honored in June at the 2023 MADD Lifesavers Recognition Luncheon.

Waskevich joined the Mount Pleasant Police Department in 2019 and in 2020 completed his field training process with the department’s training officers. He has since received awards from MADD Michigan due to his 88 and 114 driving while under the influence of alcohol arrests in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“I do not seek this kind of recognition,” Waskevich said. “I am careful to stay within the boundaries of best practices for each traffic stop and do what I can to enforce the law and protect all drivers properly.”

He works closely with fellow officers, who occasionally defer to him as they handle patrols on weeknights and weekends, the active bar nights when these incidents frequently occur.

“I might say I was lucky with my shift mates since we are given calls for service as well as requests to check on potential drunken drivers,” Waskevich said.

Waskevich is now among the department’s officers training recruits who welcome his field experience as they begin serving the community.

“We have had a handful of new hires in the last six months to a year, and these officers recognize their responsibility to help make the roads safe for everyone,” Waskevich said. “I regularly take overtime during their shifts and am happy to give them pointers so they can excel in their enforcement.”

Learn more about Ferris State’s Criminal Justice program and Law Enforcement Academy.