In the time since then, Shriver-Kelch, now a Kettering Police Officer has focused efforts on taking drunk drivers off the road. In August, MADD recognized her as Top Cop Award for the Southwestern Region. She said she may have made as many as 500 arrests for DUIs over her career.
What has your work to fight drunk driving entailed? “Myself and several other officers were recognized for efforts in going above and beyond to take DUI drivers of the roads,” Shriver-Kelch said. “Whether that be prevention, education, enforcement or all of those included.”
The effects of drunken driving is also a personal issue for Shriver-Kelch.
“I was personally hit by a drunk driver December 31, 2002, and almost killed in that crash,” she said. “When I was hit, I was working, and he ended up taking a full speed hit into my cruiser. I was Careflighted in a brief coma. All the way up to today I am still suffering the effects of what one person’s decision was, to drink and drive.”
What is your favorite part of being a police officer? “When we’re out here doing our jobs, it’s more than just what people would assume. When we’re going out here, we have a job to do, which is obviously responding to calls and preventing crime, but there’s also the community oriented policing side of what we do as well.”
What should people know about the police? “We’ve approachable. When people see us driving around in our cars, they’re afraid to wave to us sometimes,” she said. “I think it’s important that we get out and deal with people in the community, but I think it’s also important that they know we’re definitely approachable if they have a problem, not only can they call us but if they see us out driving around on our beats, they can come up to us and talk with us. We don’t bite.”
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