Two Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputies Recognized as DWI All-Star Enforcers at Twins Game on Sunday

(KNSI) — Two Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputies were honored at Target Field Sunday as DWI All-Star Enforcers.

Last year, Deputy Nathaniel Younkin made 85 DWI arrests, and his colleague Deputy Ethan Schwinghammer had 69. They were part of about 60 law enforcement members from across the state to be honored at Target Field.

Younkin had the fifth-most arrests for a sheriff’s deputy in Minnesota. The overall leaders for both law enforcement groups were with the Minnesota State Patrol. Trooper Gustavo Culbeaux led all DWI All-Stars last year with 173 arrests.

He says, “The time I spent in the Marine Corps taught me about dedication to a greater cause, and I still practice that concept today. It’s an honor to wear the uniform, to serve with the Minnesota State Patrol and to be recognized as a DWI All-Star.”

Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson discussed the importance of cracking down on driving while impaired offenses. “The DWI All-Stars do more than just arrest impaired drivers. They save lives, stop crashes and keep families from feeling the lifelong heartache of losing a loved one.”

According to the most recent data, from 2018 to 2022, there were 412 drunk driving-related traffic deaths in Minnesota and 127,238 DWI arrests.

As a group, the All-Stars combined for over 4,400 DWI arrests.

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