The Midland Empire Alcohol Task Force has been honored by its peers across the country with the John W Britt Community Service Award.

Members of the task force on Wednesday night received the award at the annual conference of the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association based in Calverton, Maryland.

The local unit started in 2007 with members of the St Joseph Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and the St Joseph Youth Alliance. It has since expanded to include law enforcement officials in ten counties in Northwest Missouri.

According to the St Joe police, the task force is responsible for 419 liquor establishments in an area covering over five thousand miles.

(Pictured are, left to right Richard Cologie, NLLEA President, SJPD Sgt Jennifer Protzman , SJPD Sgt Larry Stobbs, SJPD Capt Eric Protzman and NLLEA VP Jim Wilson.)