Thurmont -- Two Thurmont Police Department officers were among the top 120 officers in the state for making driving-under-the-influence arrests in 2008. Officers Mark Debord and Daniel Fitzgerald were each recently presented DUI Law Enforcement awards given by the Impaired Driving Coalition. "It was great to have two of our officers win the award," Chief Greg Eyler said. "They do an excellent job for us with DUI enforcement. They deserve it." Debord had 17 arrests in 2008, while Fitzgerald had 15. The department averages 10 DUI arrests a year, so these were high numbers, Eyler said. "I was excited," Debord said. "It was quite an honor." Fitzgerald, a four-year veteran of the department, was happy to have won the award with Debord. Debord had been in the running for the award before, but this is the first time he has won. The last time an officer in the department received the award was former Lt. Shawn Tyler, who won it two years ago. Tyler had also won the award the previous year, Eyler said. Debord, a five-year veteran of the department, said every traffic stop is different, but he does keep a watch out for drunken drivers, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. "It's important that people know we are out there looking for (drunken drivers)," Debord said. "We have zero tolerance for it."
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