MADD COBEQUID

First row from left: Truro Deputy Chief Jim Flemming, MADD Cobequid President Margaret Miller, Colchester RCMP Staff Sgt John Barry and MADD Cobequid Board Member Shirley Christensen. Second row, Truro Staff Sgt Randy MacKenzie and Colchester RCMP Cpl Addie MacCallum TRURO- Colchester County's two police forces now have another tool to fight against drunk drivers. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Cobequid Chapter presented the Truro Police Service and Colchester RCMP each with two roadside screening devices and a charger. "MADD Cobequid works very closely with local police departments," said president Margaret Miller. "They have graciously allowed us to go to sobriety roadchecks with them. One thing that has been standing out is they really haven't had the equipment they need." "This was an opportunity for us to step in and say "OK, lets use some of those volunteer dollars that are coming in to the chapter and put them back on out on the street where we know they're going to be working to get impaired drivers off the road." Two roadside screening devices and the charger cost about $4,000. "The donation from MADD is a wonderful contribution to our efforts to keep the roads safe in regards to impaired drivers," said Colchester RCMP Staff Sgt John Berry. The Mounties already have some roadside devices but the donation "increases our capabilities." Staff Sgt Randy MacKenzie said the Truro Police Service will be trying the devices and if it is determined that the force needs more, it will purchase them. The chapter, which has existed since 2003,receives donations from the public in a variety of ways. The Const. Bruce Miller Memorial Golf Tournament is coming up on June 20 in Shubenacadie. The chapter has also received tickets from WestJet that it will be selling tickets on at various locations around the community and there are red ribbon boxes at numerous stores. "There are lots of ways people can donate, along with their time," Miller said. "We have a lot of excellent, excellent volunteers who donate their time." This article was originally published in March 2011, special thanks to Jason Malloy of The Truro Daily News for allowing us to put this on our website.