Murfreesboro, TN - Four Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies earned awards for removing intoxicated and impaired drivers off the roadways in 2023.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving presented the awards to Middle Tennessee law enforcement officers during their annual awards recognition ceremony Friday.

Cpl. Zack Williams, Deputy Michael Bennett, Deputy Steve Hill and Deputy Tyler Marks received the awards from victims whose family members were killed or injured due to drunk or drugged drivers.

A representative of MTSU student Nina Emily Johnson, who was killed by a drugged driver, gave the deputies a card with her photo stating, “Remember Me.”

“You guys did what you needed to do,” the representative told the deputies. “Thank you.”

Julie Ray, the mother of Brentwood Police Officer Destin Legieza, who was killed on duty by a woman drunk driver in 2020.

“I’ve never loved someone so much,” Ray said of her son.

The driver’s actions would change the trajectory of her life, the mother said. It’s impossible to understand the loss of a child by a drunk driver until it happens to you.

Only faith helps her survive life without her son, she said.

Ray is grateful to the law enforcement officers who make the effort to make sure other families don’t experience the loss of a child.

“Each impaired driver removed from the streets likely prevented another parent from feeling this loss,” Ray said.

She appreciates each officer for their time and dedication to making the traffic stop, arresting impaired drivers and saving lives.

MADD set up table for one to represent officers in Middle Tennessee who died in the line of duty.

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Rodgers paid tribute to the fallen officers in 2023 and 2024, including Rutherford County Sheriff’s Detective Jacob Beu, who died in a traffic crash.

“We remember the sacrifice of our fallen,” Rodgers said. “We have served with them and called them friend, brother, sister and family and always depended on their selfless, courageous and final service.”