Jun 23, 2008 - 04:07:12 CDT
FARGO (AP) — Ten police officers in this city have undergone special training to become drug recognition experts.The training included a two-week course and certification process. The officers went to Phoenix to obtain certification.
Other officers and local law enforcement departments can contact a drug recognition expert when they arrest someone who is under the influence to help determine what category of drugs the person might be using.
The experts use a variety of tests that focus on such things as blood pressure, pulse and eye pupil readings.
“There’s a lot of clinical signs of people being under the influence of illegal drugs,” Officer Chet Decker said. “Because of our specialized training, it holds up in court and is recognized in court.”
The Fargo Police Department has drug recognition experts on call in case an officer who is not an expert needs one, Sgt. Jeff Skuza said. West Fargo police also have two patrol officers who are certified as experts, said Assistant Chief Mike Reitan.
The most common illegal drugs in the Fargo-Moorhead area are stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine, depressants such as alcohol and narcotics or marijuana, Decker said.
Officers usually do not encounter a lot of people using inhalants, but Decker said there has been an increase in the number of people inhaling spray products used to clean computer keyboards.
“Just in my very short time in this program I’ve encountered people that are very dangerous and should not be behind the wheel,” he said.
Police also sometimes come across someone under the influence who isn’t behind the wheel, Decker said.
“People don’t have to be driving” to get arrested, he said.
Harleyp wrote on Jun 23, 2008 7:06 PM:
snoller wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:19 PM:
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