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St. Helens Officer Earns State Certification as Drug Recognition Expert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2022
St. Helens, Ore. – St. Helens Patrol Officer McKenzie McClure achieved certification as a drug recognition expert (DRE) through the Oregon State Police in June 2022.
Oregon DRE School trains Oregon officers to become experts in identifying when an individual is under the influence of a drug and which type of the seven drug categories is being used. Based on the in-depth training required, a DRE-certified officer is also deemed an expert witness during a trial and their testimony is considered extremely reliable.
“This training not only makes me a better officer, but it helps make the St. Helens community a safer place,” said Officer McClure.
The DRE School is managed by the Oregon State Police with instructors from various agencies. To be accepted into the school, a candidate must submit multiple letters of recommendation from different agencies, provide documentation of their DUII work, and include pertinent certifications such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.
Training includes an initial proficiency test, three weeks of full-time classroom training and workshops, multiple exams and quizzes, and a field certification portion in which officers work 12-to-16-hour days before completing a final 9.5-hour exam.
In December 2021, Officer McClure successfully completed a Driving While Impaired (DWI) Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Instructor Development Course to become a certified instructor for the St. Helens Police Department.
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For further information regarding this press release, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.
