LEWISTOWN — Pennsylvania has about 254 certified drug recognition experts in the Commonwealth, with three of them serving Mifflin County.

Lewistown Police Department Ofc. Brian Becker recently joined those ranks as the third member by becoming certified as a drug recognition expert (DRE). After completing two weeks of classroom instruction in Pittsburgh, Becker followed that up with a week in southeast Pennsylvania where he conducted numerous evaluations of drug-impaired individuals.

A DRE is a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol.

The program originated in the early 1970s when LPD officers noticed that many of the individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) had very low or zero alcohol concentrations. The officers reasonably suspected that the arrestees were under the influence of drugs, but lacked the knowledge and skills to support their suspicions.

Officers collaborated with various medical doctors, research psychologists and other medical professionals to develop a simple, standardized procedure for recognizing drug influence and impairment. Their efforts culminated in the development of a multi-step protocol and the first DRE program.

During DRE training, officers are taught a systematic process, checking blood pressure and pulse, in order to identify signs and symptoms associated with drug impairment. Officers also receive extensive training in identifying common medical problems which can be mistaken as drug impairment.

Certified DREs can be requested by other law enforcement agencies to assist with investigations for determining whether or not a driver of a vehicle is impaired from drugs, alcohol or whether the impairment might be caused by a medical emergency.

The Lewistown Police Department received a grant which covered expenses associated with Becker’s certification.

In a social media post, the Lewistown Police Department said, “It remains dedicated to removing impaired drivers from the roadways. We strive to ensure that our officers have the training and experience required to identify, investigate, and convict those who recklessly place our citizens in harm’s way by choosing to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming impairing substances.”