Toms River Elks Presents MacRae with Camarena Award

Toms River Elks Lodge #1875 is proud to announce that Toms River Police Detective Duncan MacRae has been presented with the Enrique Camarena Award, recognizing individuals that demonstrate extraordinary dedication to creating drug-free communities.

Toms River Elks #1875, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, presented MacRae with the award in a ceremony held on June 2 at the Wildwood Convention Center. Toms River's Drug Awareness Program, chaired by Beth Buecker, nominated MacRae in honor of all of the work he has done in our community with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team and the DEA Monmouth/Ocean County Heroin Task Force.

As a law enforcement officer for more than twenty years, MacRae has focused much of his career on narcotics and gang enforcement. His goal has been to remove drugs from our community and decrease the number of deaths by overdose. Throughout his career he has sought to do this by making things as uncomfortable as possible for narcotics traffickers.

Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was an 11-year veteran Agent of the DEA. He was kidnapped, brutally tortured and then murdered by the Mexican Drug Cartel in 1985. He was a loving husband and father of three children. His death has inspired millions of Americans to lead a drug-free life and the Elks celebrate his commitment to this effort with an annual award.

Each year, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, through the Drug Awareness Program, presents the Enrique S. Camarena Award to a member of the law enforcement community who best exemplifies the qualities and principles for which Agent Camarena gave his life. One officer in each state throughout the country receives this annual award.

The Elks National Drug Awareness Program strives to teach all children and parents about the dangers of illegal drug use and prevent the abuse of legalized and prescription drugs. As the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States, the program relies on state, district and Lodge volunteers to promote a drug-free lifestyle. By taking pride in America’s communities and youth, the program takes action against youth drug use through education and inspiration.

Toms River Elks #1875 is one of eleven lodges in the Southeast District of New Jersey, the largest district in the state. The Toms River Elks Lodge is committed to serving its 1,200+ members and the community of Toms River and surrounding areas, as well as Southeast District, State and National Elks programs. To learn more please visit www.tomsriverelks.org

Contact: Valerie Marsden-Gray, [email protected]
Toms River Elks, 600 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753