Lower Saucon's Finest: 4 Officers Earn Awards

Members of the Lower Saucon Township Police Department received several awards for their professionalism and service at a recent township council meeting.

Presenting the annual awards was Lower Saucon Police Chief Guy Lesser, who expressed his pride in the accomplishments of his officers.

Lesser presented DUI Enforcement awards to full-time officers Steve Kunigus, Rob Winters and Chuck Werkheiser, all of whom began their careers with the LSTPD as part-time officers.

Officer Willie Shelly was also the recipient of an enforcement award, although he was unable to attend the presentation.

Winters, Lesser noted, is the department's DUI Coordinator, and in conjunction with the Freemansburg and Hellertown police departments oversees the coordination of DUI checkpoints and the administration of the Cops in Shops program, among other things.

"Rob is extremely dedicated," Lesser said. "We’re extremely pleased to have him as our coordinator."

Werkheiser is the department's Taser and defensive tactics instructor and often "commits his personal time" to duties related to his job, Lesser said.

With 34 DUI arrests last year, Werkheiser helped lead the department in his efforts to keep the roadways of Lower Saucon Township safe, Lesser said.

As a team, Werkheiser, Shelly, Winters and Kunigus were among the most productive police units in terms of numbers of DUI arrest in Northampton County, he added.

Based on his overall performance in 13 separate areas of police work, Werkheiser was the recipient of the Lower Saucon Township Police Department's Officer of the Year Award.

Winters, who won that award last year, was the recipient of the runner-up award.