DRE’s Evaluate Drivers Impaired by Drugs

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces his office has deployed a third Drug Recognition Expert in the Patrol Division.

Deputy David Zamorek completed the multi-week certification class this past fall, which consisted of classroom and field certification in New York and Florida.  Zamorek finished second in his class and has been working as a DRE for the past few weeks.

Sheriff Howard notes, “With the growing problem of drug use in the area we are observing an increase in the number of drivers impaired by drugs and it is important to have Deputies trained to observe the signs of drug impairment, which can vary from the signs of alcohol impairment.”

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office had 176 Drug Recognition Expert calls in 2016, an increase from 135 in 2015