The Benton Police Department, in conjunction with the Criminal Justice Institute, is currently hosting a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training class. This is a 9 day course that certifies law enforcement officers from around the state as DRE’s.
Course participants will learn classification of drugs and their observable effects on people. The class consists of not only standard classroom training, but also numerous practical exercises that culminate in a rigorous final testing phase prior to final certification as a DRE.
The currently approved curriculum involves a three-phase training process. Prior to beginning the training program, students are required to be trained in, and demonstrate proficiency in, the use of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST). Phase I of the DRE training consists of the two-day (16-hour) Pre-School. During this training phase, students are taught the definition of the term “drug” as it is used in the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP), and become familiar with the techniques of the drug influence evaluation.
Phase II of the training is a seven-day (56-hour) classroom program during which students receive detailed instruction in the techniques of the drug influence evaluation examination as well as in physiology, the effects of drugs, and legal considerations. Upon completion of this phase of training, the student must pass a comprehensive written examination before proceeding to Phase III of training, the field certification.
The field certification portion of training follows completion of the classroom training and during this portion of the training, students, under the direction of certified instructors, evaluate subjects suspected of being impaired by drugs other than alcohol. After participating in and documenting the results of at least 12 drug evaluations (being an evaluator for a minimum of six) and completing a comprehensive final knowledge examination, the student may be recommended for certification as a DRE.
The Benton Police Department currently has at least one DRE on every patrol shift and also one of the school resource officers is one. With the current rise in the number of drugged drivers that officers are encountering on the road we feel that it’s imperative we have the resources available to combat this problem in our community.
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/221829174560849