KDSN RADIO News
Denison Police Sergeant Recognized with MADD Hero Award
(Burlington, IA) A Denison police sergeant is among law enforcement officers from across Iowa honored for their efforts to combat impaired driving.
Sergeant Cardenas of the Denison Police Department received recognition during Mothers Against Drunk Driving's annual Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet, held Saturday, November 7, in Burlington.
The MADD Hero Awards recognize officers nominated for their dedication to impaired-driving enforcement, traffic safety and public education.
According to the Denison Police Department, Cardenas made 23 operating-while-intoxicated arrests in 2025, bringing his total to 161 OWI arrests over the past decade.
Other officers selected for recognition this year include Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Rod Hicok, a law enforcement veteran of more than 40 years, and Centerville Police Officer Zack Burns, who also helps train fellow officers to recognize impaired drivers.
The recognition comes as impaired driving remains a major safety concern in Iowa. The Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau reports that approximately 30 percent of the state's traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver.
