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Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program
The Ripon Police Department is proud to have Officer Nick Place as a State Certified Drug Recognition Expert for the Ripon Police Department. Nick has been with the Ripon PD since July of 2006 and has been a Drug Recognition Expert since receiving his training and certification in 2004
The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program began in the early 1970’s with two Los Angeles Police Officers, Sgt. Len Leeds and Sgt. Dick Studdard. The initial impetus for the program stemmed from the frequent contacts LAPD traffic officers had with drivers who were clearly impaired but whose blood alcohol concentrations were very low or zero. Sgt Leeds and Sgt Studdard teamed up with doctors and researchers from around the country to develop the DRE protocol for teaching police officers how to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug use.
The DRE course is very intense with nine days of classroom instruction followed by a certification process where police officers come in contact with individuals impaired by various substances and must be able to determine, based on their training, which drug category the individuals are under the influence of. The officers use a twelve-step process, which includes psychophysical tests, blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, muscle tone, and observing a person’s eyes in different lighting conditions. The officer’s opinions regarding impairment are confirmed by toxicology tests.
Drug Recognition Experts are certified through the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and must undergo regular training and proficiency tests to recertify. In addition to the benefit of having a DRE investigate drug impaired driving, that benefit also extends to non-traffic related situations. A DRE’s training and knowledge can also help identify drug-impaired people in many other types of police calls for service. www.riponpolice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={B6710133-0260-4BD4-926E-4382547B7209}
Police are caught giving drugs to junkies for a drug recognition expert program
What is a DRE?
A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is an officer who has been specially trained to conduct an
examination on a person to determine if the person is impaired and, if so, whether the
impairment is caused by drug use or by a medical condition. This examination is conducted
in a controlled environment utilizing a Standardized and Systematic 12 Step Process. The
Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP) utilizes a format that has seven
categories of drugs. These categories are determined based on the pharmacodynamics of that
particular drug category. Pharmacodynamics is the medically known responses of drug use on
human physiology. Once the examination is completed the DRE is able to determine which
drug category or categories the person has used. Drug Recognition Experts can be used in a
variety of ways, from DWI Enforcement to internal investigations.
Drug Evaluation and Classification Program
The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program is sponsored by the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). 41 states, as well as Canada and several other nations, currently
support the DEC Program. Hundreds of U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies participate in the DEC
Program and there are approximately 6000 DRE's and 1000 DRE Instructors worldwide. The
training is intense and requires a level of commitment and dedication un-paralleled in law
enforcement. The basic training consists of 200 hours of Pre-School and DRE School
Classroom Training followed by Field Certification Training and a comprehensive Final
Knowledge Examination. Only after completing the extensive training program can officers
be certified by the IACP as Drug Recognition Experts. DRE officers are required to
continue their education of drug impairment and conduct the minimum number of drug
evaluations during a two year period to stay certified.
Drug Evaluation and Classification Program in Louisiana
The next Drug Recognition Expert School will be May 23, 2011. Location: LSP Academy, Baton
Rouge. There is no on-line registration process for this training (see application link
below). This training is only for officers meeting the minimum requirements outlined on
the application. The training is offered free of charge to those qualified officers.
Lodging and meals are paid for according to state travel regulations. Any questions should
be directed to Jay Cripple at 225-620-2428.
The following agencies have certified DRE's or officers training to be DRE's:
Louisiana State Police
Baton Rouge Police Department
Slidell Police Department
St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
Rustin Police Department
West Monroe Police Department
Union Parish Sheriff's Office
Louisiana Drug
Recognition Expert School Application
To be considered for any upcoming DRE Course an officer must complete the application and
mail it to the Louisiana DECP Coordinator, Sgt. Jay Cripple, at the address at the bottom
of the application. http://www.lsp.org/safety_dre.html
Links of Interest
"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." Thomas Jefferson