Press Release-10-07-2022

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GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES LATEST CLASS
 OF NEW YORK’S DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS   

Program Strengthens State’s Efforts to Prevent Drugged Driving on New York Roadways

411 Drug Recognition Experts Now Certified Statewide

View B-roll and Soundbites of New York’s Drug Recognition Experts Training 

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today recognized 20 law enforcement officers from across New York State who recently completed extensive training and are now nationally certified Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). With this graduating class, New York now has 411 certified DREs across the state. 

“Drug Recognition Experts are an irreplaceable asset in helping to get impaired drivers off New York’s roads,” said GTSC Chair and DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “I congratulate the officers for the hard work they put in to complete this extensive training and appreciate their efforts in making our roads safer.”

Below is a list of graduates and their affiliations:

Last Name

First Name

                 Agency

Andrews

Benjamin

New York State Police

Blake

Jacis

Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office

Capeder

Marcus

Brighton Police Department

Caudle

Timothy

New York State Police

Clancy

Ryan

New York State Park Police

Daloia

Christopher

Bath Village Police Department

Egeberg

Alexis

New York State Police

Flower

Rosalia

New York State Police

Jaeger

Nicholas

Guilderland Police Department

Masiello

Cheyenne

Livingston County Sheriff's Office

McKinney

Matt

New York State Police

Middlebrook III

Robert

Ontario County Sheriff's Office

Minogue

Kristopher

Plattsburgh Police Department

Pierson

Brett

Irondequoit Police Department

Puchalski

Daniel

Plattsburgh City Police Department

Stirk

Jason

New York State Police

Stupple

Matthew

Port Authority Police Department

Williams

Brian

New York State Police

Wolcott

Jordan

LeRoy Police Department

Yetto

Daniel

Saratoga County Sheriff's Office

DREs are utilized by law enforcement when a driver appears to be impaired and police have ruled out alcohol as the cause or sole cause of impairment. A DRE receives extensive training that has been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

The training allows officers to observe and document signs and indicators of impairment within each of seven drug categories including illicit and prescription drugs. DREs can make arrests and remove impaired drivers from New York State roadways regardless of the drug or drug combinations that are causing impairment.    

As part of their training, DRE graduates must successfully complete a three-part program prior to being certified.  The first two phases include a two-day introductory course, followed by 56 hours of instruction and a final exam. In the third phase, participants are required to observe and identify drug categories and complete an additional final knowledge exam to successfully comply with national DRE regulations. After successfully completing the training, all DRE officers are certified for two years and are expected to meet certain requirements to be considered for re-certification at the end of this period.    

Officers selected to participate in the DRE program must have a history of being proactive within their community and be well-trained in DWI detection. Only a handful of the large number of DRE applicants are selected to attend the training, which is sponsored by the GTSC and New York State STOP-DWI Foundation.    

Learn more about the DRE program on the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee website.    

About GTSC
Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seatbelt use statewide.    

For more information about GTSC, visit https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/, or follow the GTSC conversation on Facebook and Twitter

 

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