MADD, STOP-DWI honor Orleans sheriff for long career of drunk driving enforcement

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

Provided photos: Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke is joined by his wife Suzanne in accepting an award on April 28 in Albany.

ALBANY – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York, STOP–DWI and The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee hosted their Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Event on April 28 at the Albany Capital Center.

The Maureen McCormick Lifetime Achievement award was created in honor of Suffolk County Special Assistant District Attorney Maureen McCormick in 2022. These awards recognize the contribution for the lifetime commitment to keeping the roads of New York safe and for protecting our communities from the 100% preventable crimes of drunk and impaired driving.

The 2026 Maureen McCormick Leader of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Christopher M. Bourke.

Sheriff Bourke has committed over 40 years of service to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a Corrections Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant, and Undersheriff before being elected Sheriff of Orleans County.

During his time as a Deputy Sheriff and Lieutenant, Sheriff Bourke was known and respected as being proactive in impaired driving enforcement, routinely making DWI arrests.

During his time as Undersheriff from 2016 to 2020, Sheriff Bourke led efforts within the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to implement and expand drunk and impaired driving community outreach. Some examples include Sheriff Bourke obtaining the agency’s first DWI simulator, expanding community outreach into local schools, increased sheriff’s office participation in prom season DWI simulations, and more.

Chris Bourke accepts the Maureen McCormick Lifetime Achievement award for his 40-plus year career in law enforcement and drunk driving enforcement.

Since being elected Sheriff, Sheriff Bourke has continued his commitment to drunk and impaired driving enforcement—the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with DRE Instructors and hosted an Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving class. In addition to numerous sheriff’s office personnel attending this course, it was also made available to other agencies within Orleans County. This training was the direct result of Sheriff Bourke’s personal mission to expand impaired driving enforcement training within Orleans County.

The Sheriff’s Office recently acquired the most updated DWI Simulator on the market, to more effectively educate young people about the consequences of drunk and impaired driving. Additionally, Sheriff Bourke made a commitment to re-establishing the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Drug Recognition Expert Program.

For many years, the sheriff’s office did not have any certified Drug Recognition Experts. Since re-establishing the program, the sheriff’s office has added two certified Drug Recognition Experts in the past two years. Under Sheriff Bourke’s leadership, there has been a 150 percent increase in DWI arrest by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office over the past four years.

Throughout his 40-plus year career with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Bourke’s rank has changed, his roles have changed, but what has not changed is his commitment to drunk and impaired driving enforcement.