CLINTON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey — Five Clinton Township Police Department officers were recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving New Jersey during the organization’s 2026 Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Recognition Event, according to a New Jersey Hills Media Group report.
The department congratulated Sergeant Umair Latif, Patrol Officer Chris Ramos, Patrol Officer Nick Praino, Patrol Officer Connor Schaefer and Patrol Officer Francesca Escudero after the Friday, June 12 event, the report said.
Recognition tied to roadway safety work
Each officer received a Recognition of Excellence Award for dedication and commitment to deterring impaired driving and saving lives on New Jersey roadways throughout 2025, according to the report.
New Jersey Hills reported that the officers’ proactive enforcement efforts were credited with helping keep the community and the motoring public safe while advancing MADD’s mission to eliminate impaired driving.
Why this belongs in the good-police-story file
Traffic enforcement can be easy to overlook until a family is spared the knock on the door that follows an impaired-driving crash. Recognition events like this put names to the officers doing the routine, preventive work that may never become a viral rescue video but still protects lives.
For Support Law Enforcement readers, the story is also a useful reminder that public safety includes the overnight stops, patrol decisions and impaired-driving enforcement that keep strangers from becoming victims.
Sources reviewed
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used the public New Jersey Hills report and source photo, attributed the image in the caption and alt text, and limited claims to the officers, award and roadway-safety recognition described in the source.