2009 TZD Star Awards Winners
The Toward Zero Deaths Star Awards are given to recognize excellence in enforcement, emergency medical and trauma services, education, engineering, child passenger safety, judicial/court systems, public leadership, and the media. Award recipients have demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and organizational skills and the ability to successfully motivate and collaborate with others in efforts to drive Minnesota toward zero deaths on its roads. The 2009 recipients in each category are listed below.
See previous TZD Star Awards Winners
Enforcement: Bruce Johnson
Retired Dakota County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Bruce Johnson is the recipient of this year’s Star Award in the Enforcement category. Johnson served Dakota County for 22 years, where he sustained a passion for traffic safety and was instrumental in forming the Dakota County Traffic Safety Project. He worked to secure aid agreements, council resolutions, and grant funds for this program while serving as the law enforcement representative on the Safe Communities coalition and the fatal review board. As a safety leader in Dakota County, Johnson has also built partnerships with many county agencies.
Emergency Medical & Trauma Services: Darrell Smith
In the Emergency Medical and Trauma Services category, this year’s Star Award recipient is Darrell Smith. Smith has worked for Cook County Ambulance Service for 34 years, starting as a volunteer and now serving as director. He has served on numerous local and regional committees, teams, and boards, including the Cook County Search and Rescue Team, Arrowhead Emergency Medical Services, and the Minnesota Ambulance Association. Over his career, he has worked with local law enforcement to improve radio communications, scene safety, and working conditions and has served as a mentor for a number of young EMTs, first responders, and law enforcement officers.
Education: Joseph Grafft
The recipient of this year’s Star Award in Education is Metropolitan State University School of Law Enforcement faculty member Joseph A. Grafft. Grafft has been involved in emergency medical services and education for more than 40 years and has held leadership positions with a number of emergency medical associations and committees. He was responsible for the motorcycle driving program sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, which trained more than 8,000 riders in basic and advanced motorcycle driving, and he has worked extensively with area schools to promote seat belt use and youth safety.
Engineering: Dave Engstrom
This year’s Star Award recipient in Engineering is Dave Engstrom. Engstrom has been instrumental in the implementation of Mn/DOT’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan and the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and he led the effort to deploy a statewide cable median barrier program, a speed management program, and low-cost county safety improvements. He is the department expert in the evaluation of intersection control and is a roundabout advocate. Engstrom is also called upon nationally to serve on various technical committees, including FHWA Low Cost Safety Improvement Research, AASHTO Safety Audit Peer Group, and FHWA Strategic Highway Safety Plan Peer Group.
Child Passenger Safety: Brynn Duncan Family
The recipient of the Star Award in Child Passenger Safety (CPS) is Brynn Duncan and family. Duncan was seven years old when she was injured by her seat belt in a car crash because she was not sitting in a booster seat. Since the crash, the Duncan family has worked hard to change booster seat language in the CPS law. The family has traveled numerous times to testify, asked Brynn’s schoolmates to write letters to legislators regarding this law, and contacted its state representative, who signed the CPS law as a co-author this year. The Duncan family became the name and face for child passenger safety in Minnesota, and the family’s efforts persuaded lawmakers to upgrade the CPS law.
Judicial/Court System: James Dehn
Isanti District Court Judge James Dehn is the recipient of this year’s Star Award in the category of Judicial and Court Systems. Judge Dehn and the Isanti County Courts were the first to begin a DWI tracking study. Previously, he established a first-of-its-kind sentencing program for individuals convicted of DWIs to earn reduced jail time for a change in behavior. He has collaborated with the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety and the Isanti County TZD program, which led to the establishment of a liquor provider partnership and the Safe Cab program. Judge Dehn and the Isanti County Courts continue to be local advocates for traffic safety and the TZD program.
Public Leadership: Jim Carlson
State Senator Jim Carlson is serving in his first term and is the Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. He also authored the CPS bill each year he has been in the legislature.
Public Leadership: Melissa Hortman
State Representative Melissa Hortman, serving in her third term from Brooklyn Park, is on the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee and is part of the House leadership. Rep. Hortman has authored the CPS bill for each of her years in the legislature.
Public Leadership: Cheri Marti
Office of Traffic Safety Director Cheri Marti has worked hard to get the word out about traffic safety during her short time with the department. She has been instrumental in preparing legislators for debate on the issue and has reached out to a number of individual senators and representatives to discuss traffic safety.
Public Leadership: Steve Murphy
District 28 State Senator Steve Murphy has been a vocal and visible advocate for traffic safety. As the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Murphy has worked to sponsor traffic safety legislation and to educate other senators on traffic safety issues.
Public Leadership: Kim Norton
State Representative Kim Norton has been a long-time leader in efforts to make Minnesota roads safer. Rep. Norton has worked to build bipartisan support for traffic safety and was instrumental in passing two of the graduated driver’s license components in the legislature.
Media: Stan Turner
This year’s Media Award is given to Minnesota News Network (MNN) radio personality Stan Turner. MNN has been a consistent and engaged media partner with TZD messages, and the network has been open to and interested in covering TZD news to educate its listeners about important traffic safety issues. Turner has demonstrated enthusiasm and interest in traffic safety topics by consistently covering TZD news items year-round. He and his news team are a tremendous asset to TZD as they help the program reach a statewide audience in communities large and small.