Making a difference: Deputy honored for most DUI arrests in 2011

PALMDALE – Deputy Eduardo G. Saucedo received a standing ovation from all in attendance at the Palmdale City Council meeting Wednesday when he was presented with the annual DUI plaque for obtaining the highest number of DUI arrests at the Palmdale Station in 2011.

But Saucedo was not able to stand himself. He accepted his award in a wheelchair.

“I was involved in an accident with a drunk driver,” Saucedo said. “I was broadsided on duty.”

Saucedo was hospitalized on Nov. 12, 2011 after a DUI driver ran a stop sign and broadsided the parked sheriff’s patrol car Saucedo was sitting in. Read more on that here.

This caused Saucedo to miss several weeks of work as he recovered from his injuries.

Still, Saucedo made 122 DUI arrests in 2011 to achieve the annual DUI plaque for the fourth year in a row.

“He has set the bar,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford at the council meeting. “Beware, this man will get you; and it’s the direction of the council that he does so, because its part of our public safety and our ability to traverse around our city without fear of somebody crashing into us.”

Saucedo made 98 DUI arrests in 2008; 184 in 2009; and 136 in 2010. In four years, Saucedo made a total of 540 DUI arrests, according to statistics provided by the City of Palmdale.

“Thank you for all you do in helping to make the streets of Palmdale safe for all our residents and visitors,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “I’ve always said our Palmdale Sheriffs are the best, and Deputy Saucedo is certainly among the best of the best!”

In accepting his DUI plaque, Saucedo said he was ready to get back to work.

“I am hoping that I go through a speedy recovery so I can get back to work and keep the streets of Palmdale safe for everybody out here,” Saucedo said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related fatalities totaled 11,773, which represents 31.7 percent of all fatal crashes. Those fatalities represent an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 40 minutes.  About one in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash sometime in their lives.

For more information, contact Lt. Don Ford at the Palmdale Sheriff’s station at 661-272-2400.