Reassigned Deputies for DWI Interdiction Paying Off 

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced today that his realignment plan that allowed his agency to assign more Deputies to road patrol has resulted in a 16% increase in DWI arrests. 

According to STOP-DWI statistics, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office has made 207 DWI arrests from January 1, 2017, through September 10, 2017; compared to 178 DWI arrests during the same period in 2016. 

In March 2017, Sheriff Howard announced a plan that shifted twelve Police Services Deputies back to road patrol and assigned Jail Management Division (JMD) Deputies to inmate transportation duties.  The added road patrol Deputies are concentrating on DWI and drug interdiction patrol throughout the county. 

Sheriff Howard was able to implement this plan as the staffing levels for the JMD reached recommended levels. “My main purpose is to keep the people of Erie County safe, and when the County Executive and Legislators provided me the needed staffing for the jails, my first plan was to reassign Deputies to the road to concentrate on impaired drivers.” 

The same statistics showed that the Sheriff’s Office made ten (10) more arrests from July 1 – September 10, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. 

“I do believe that ridesharing and expanded taxi service is making a difference, and as more people become aware of their options, DWI arrests will go down,” stated Howard.  “But I encourage those companies to further expand their services outside of the city and first-ring suburbs to include the rural areas of the county, and I urge people to utilize these options and get home safe.” 

The Erie County Sheriff’s main patrol districts include Grand Island, Clarence, Alden, Marilla, Elma, Wales, Colden, Holland, Sardinia, Boston, Concord, North Collins, and Collins.