Photo by Deb Gau Scott McConkey, a law enforcement liaison with the Office of Traffic Safety, recognized Beau Swenson of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department during Tuesday’s county board meeting. Swenson and Dustin Demuth received honorable mentions for the Office of Traffic Safety’s DWI All-Star award for DWI enforcement.

MARSHALL — Keeping impaired drivers off Minnesota roads isn’t about numbers of arrests — it’s about preventing deaths, Scott McConkey said. On Tuesday, McConkey honored a Lyon County Sheriff’s deputy for his work in in DWI enforcement.

“I’m here to give some recognition for some outstanding work done in the area of DWI and impaired driving enforcement. It’s very much a need, and sometimes unappreciated,” said McConkey, law enforcement liaison with the Office of Traffic Safety at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Beau Swenson and Dustin Demuth of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office each received an honorable mention for the Office of Traffic Safety’s DWI All-Star award. Swenson was able to receive the recognition in person Tuesday. Demuth, who had moved out of state, would be receiving his recognition in the mail, McConkey said.

To be considered for the DWI All-Star award, officers need to be nominated by their supervisors and departments, McConkey said.

“We nominated (Swenson and Demuth) based on their involvement in the Toward Zero Deaths program,” said Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen. TZD works to reduce traffic fatalities across Minnesota. Wallen said Swenson and Demuth participated in the TZD area safe roads coalition. They were also proactive in their work with DWI enforcement.

“This is not a contest or a race,” McConkey said of the All-Star award. “It’s recognition of somebody that has focused and gone above and beyond in this area.”

To go along with the “all-star” theme of the award, Swenson was presented with an athletic towel with a DWI All-Star design on it. But he was also recognized for a new role he will be taking on.

“We designate an officer with every law enforcement agency to be their traffic enforcement coordinator, to work with Toward Zero Death enforcement efforts,” McConkey said. Swenson was named as the new traffic enforcement coordinator at the Sheriff’s Office. “So, for that we’ve made a uniform pin that says TZD, and it comes in blue, brown and maroon, representing the unity of all of us working together.”

McConkey said it was “an honor” to be able to recognize and show appreciation for law enforcement officers, especially during difficult times.

“It’s a tough week for law enforcement,” he said. This week in Burnsville, two police officers and a firefighter were killed while responding to a domestic incident. “Every day, cops are willing to open doors, and they don’t know what’s going to happen on the other side.”.

Lyon County Board chairman Gary Crowley also thanked Swenson for his efforts. In TZD, he said, “We’ve always thought with what we do, if we save one life, it’s well worth it. It’s the same with your service also. If you save one life, it’s well worth it. Thank you very much for your service.”