MADD honors Central Valley officers, prosecutors for DUI Enforcement

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) held its annual Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Recognition Dinner, honoring officers and legal professionals from across the Central Valley for their dedication to DUI enforcement.

One of the standout honorees was Fresno Police Officer Ryan Hudec, who made 211 DUI arrests in 2024—nearly double the average.

“Currently, I’m assigned to the Traffic Bureau as a motor officer where we respond to collisions, DUIs, and traffic violations,” Hudec said.

Jasmine Rivas, Program Specialist for MADD Central Valley, emphasized the importance of recognizing these efforts.

“We’re awarding all of our Central Valley DUI officers for the arrests they made in our 2024 calendar year—as these arrests represent lives saved,” she said.

According to Rivas, each DUI arrest has the potential to prevent a tragedy.

“If we’re taking one car off [the road], that could save five or more persons’ lives,” she said.

Hudec echoed the urgency of the work, pointing out that impaired drivers come from all backgrounds.

“It ranges from any demographic, any age, any male, female. It doesn’t matter. It’s out there. It doesn’t discriminate,” he said.

He also reminded drivers that impaired driving is always a choice, and one that could be avoided.

“Let’s not drive. Let’s call an Uber,” Hudec said. “It frustrates me because 30 minutes before, when you got behind the wheel, you could have made that decision then.”

MADD officials say education, enforcement, and accountability are key to preventing drunk driving tragedies—especially during holidays, when impaired driving typically spikes.

“It’s my goal to get those drivers off the road because my family drives the roadway,” Hudec said.

The annual event serves as a reminder that behind every statistic is a story—and that preventing one tragedy can save many lives.