Decorah Police officer honored on Wednesday for his commitment to drug abuse prevention

(Left to right): United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Peter E. Deegan, Jr. gives the 2017 Enrique S. Camarena Award to Officer Christopher Wuebker of the Decorah Police Department (Photos by decorahnews.com's Sara Peterson)

Officer Christopher Wuebker of the Decorah Police Department is one of two Iowa law enforcement officers to be honored for his commitment to reducing drug abuse.

Officer Wuebker is a recipient of the 2017 Enrique S. Camarena Award, named after Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was an 11-year veteran agent of the DEA before being kidnapped, brutally tortured and then murdered in Mexico in 1985 while working undercover gathering information and evidence about drug lords. The award is presented each year to local law enforcement officers who best exemplify the qualities and principles for which Agent Camarena gave his life -- specifically, making their communities a safer place to live through outstanding drug prevention and enforcement efforts.

Wuebker's award was given to him by the United States Attorney's Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Peter E. Deegan, Jr. stated, "Officer Wuebker demonstrated an admirable dedication not only to investigating and prosecuting drug crimes, but to educating the public of the risks of substance abuse. Officer Wuebker has spoken to college students, high school students, and parents to increase their awareness of the dangers these substances pose to our community."

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