The Texas DEC Program headed west for the first time in ten years to conduct it's first DRE class. For too long now the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program has stopped short of including any municipality west of central Texas. Funding has always been the long standing reason. Thanks to the IACP, and National DEC Coordinator, Ernie Floeggel, approval was gained to utilize funding to enable the program to proceed.

Great effort was made to include far west Texas. As plans progressed to determine training sites, El Paso seemed the only smart choice with a population of almost one half million. Just over the border, sister city Juarez, Mexico has approximately two million citizens. El Paso is home to a major University and employees almost one thousand police officers. The city of Midland was also able to take part in this training as well as El Paso, Alpine and Texas DPS. A heartfelt thanks goes out to the El Paso Police Department for their courtesy during our stay in their town.

State Coordinator, Tom Shehan, visited with police administration during a staff meeting to bring all station commanders up to date on the DEC Program. All those in attendance were very interested and pledged their support of the program.

A news conference, held the last day of the course, included every television station in the area. That same day, State Coordinator and Houston DRE Instructor Mel Poff, met with El Paso County Misdemeanor Chief Prosecutor Laura Saad. Saad expressed her enthusiasm to finally receive such a program as DRE. It was her desire we return to El Paso in order to further educate the rest of the county misdemeanor prosecutor's.

In the middle of March, El Paso completed all of their field certifications as well as their final knowledge exam. The entire process took only 2 months, from the two day pre-school until the completion of certifications.

All of the following DRE Instructors did a great job and should be recognized for their superb efforts:

Course Manager, Kenneth Authier, Texas DPS
Mel Poff, Houston PD
Johnnie Harris, Dallas PD
Joe Cerney, Texas DPS
Dewayne Proctor, Lubbock PD
Robert Cox, Texas DPS
 
Field Certifications:
Dale Barnard, Dallas PD
Mark Vincent, Irving PD
Gene Wilganowski, TxDPS
Ronnie Bardin, Dallas PD

Southeast Texas Region
Tom Herndon
Harris County Sheriff Dist. 4
16715 Clay Road
Houston, TX 77084
wk: 281-463-2648
pg: 713-764-0016
 
Northeast Texas Region
Charles Avery
Dallas Police Department
106 South Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201
wk: 214-670-7704
pg: 800-636-3907
 
Southwest Texas Region
John Muzny
San Antonio Police Department
214 West Nuvea
San Antonio, TX 78207
wk: 210-207-7400
pg: 210-754-6330
 
Northwest Texas Region
Dwayne Proctor
Lubbock Police Department
P. O. Box 2000
Lubbock, TX 79424
wk: 806-775-2815
pg: 806-740-6025
 
Texas DPS Coordinator
Chris Mashburn
Texas DPS - Waco
1617 East Crest Drive
Waco, TX 76705
wk: 254-867-4662
pg: 800-299-4099 pin# 7051
 
Technical Advisory Panel Representative
Mel Poff
Houston Police Department
61 Riesner
Houston, TX 77002
wk: 713-247-4072
pg: 713-938-5426

THE OFFICER'S WHO ARE LISTED BELOW ARE IN DANGER OF BEING DECERTIFIED WITHIN A YEAR OF THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE. CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL COORDINATOR TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ATTEND A SCHEDULED RECERTIFICATION CLASS. IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO MAINTAIN YOUR CERTIFICATION, CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL COORDINATOR OR THE STATE COORDINATORS OFFICE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE DATABASE.

UPCOMING RECERTIFICATION CLASS DATES
 
August 8, 1998
Houston Police Academy, Rm. 413
 
October 9, 1998
Houston Police Academy, Rm. 413

For additional information contact:
Mel Poff, Houston PD
If you plan to conduct a class, inform the state coordinator so the dates can be posted and officers in need of recertification may attend.

The Texas DRE seeks articles related to the detection, investigation, arrest, and prosecution of drug impaired individuals. This quarterly newsletter is offered free of charge to Texas DRE's so that they may benefit by sharing information. If your agency considers a new program, encounters a new drug, develops new investigative techniques, please consider submitting the article to:

NEWS

4th Annual
IACP DRE
Training Conference
 
June 28-30, 1998
Portland, Oregon
 
For registration form contact:
Regional Coordinator or State Coordinator Office
LSSHEHAN@TEEXNET.TAMU.EDU
TEEX Law Enforcement Training Division
Texas A&M University System
John B. Connally Building
301 Tarrow
College Station, TX 77840-7896
1-800-423-8433

The Texas Drug Evaluation and Classification Program is funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and administered by the Texas A&M University System, teex Law Enforcement Training Division.

Any questions regarding this information should be directed to Mel Poff, Houston Police Dept.

The following information is from the minutes of the October 1997 meeting:

• TAP responsibilities and DRE Section responsibilities were reviewed
• Members were given the opportunity to give a brief overview of their state DRE program
• Presently there are 4,278 certified DRE's in 32 states (including the District of Columbia); 765 are DRE instructors
• Prosecutors now have access on up to date court cases via the Internet at The National Traffic Law Center [http:11www.ndaa-apri.org]
• The LAPD web site has changed to [http:11www.Cityofla.org/lapdtraffic/dre]
• The Third Annual Training Conference held in Buffalo, NY was reviewed. Members were reminded of the 1998 conference in Portland, Oregon and the 1999 Conference to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota (...mark your calendars!)
• NHTSA Training cooperatives held with Arizona, Indiana, Minnesota and Texas currently have limited funds and will end in June. These cooperatives are used to support newer states and those in need of help.
• Excellent resource for drug information can be found at the following web site: [www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov]
• DRE standards and other reference information: IACP website [www.theiacp.org]
• Members were informed of the development of a test for GHB by Houston, TX Laboratory. For specific information contact the Houston PD Crime Lab, 1200 Travis, Houston, TX 77002. Sebastian Frommhold, (713) 308-2600.
• Curricula Changes: A pilot with the changes was conducted in Tucson and New York. A request was made to conduct another pilot using the new curricula. The Instructors school has not yet been reviewed for any changes or improvements. After a review of the Final Knowledge Exam there was agreement this was a much more manageable exam, and better than the old one. The Highway Safety Committee approved this exam while LAPD pilot tested the exam.
• Over the Counter/Prescription Drug Module - Evolvement of this project and reasons for such a project were reviewed. This project is awaiting final agreement between the IACP and Schering-Plough (the sponsor). This will be a 4-hr. training block available during DRE recertification training.
• DRE Instructor Training - After much discussion, it was agreed that everyone was to go through the five day DRE school in order to be a DRE instructor.
• Do you know a DRE officer deserving recognition for an outstanding job? Submit his/her name to receive the
  C. A. N. D. I. D. Award? The award will be presented at the annual conference in June.
  
  Send nominations to Tom Shehan at:
  

TEEX Law Enforcement Training Division
Texas A&M University System
John B. Connally Building
301 Tarrow
College Station, TX 77840-7896
this is a new mailing address

Texas DRE's on the move ....
A big thanks to:
Dale Barnard (Dallas PD)
who will go to Forsyth, Georgia this month;
Dan Webb (Texas DPS)
who will go to Meridian, Idaho this month.
Both of these officers will assist those states with their DRE program.

Tom Shehan, also assisted Forsyth, Georgia in the DRE Instructor School.

Important DRE Field Module Software Update
DRE AGENCY COORDINATORS once you receive a copy of the DRE Field Module Software, the most current entries must be downloaded and forwarded to your Regional Coordinator, as quickly as possible. This information will enable TEEX Law Enforcement to report State activity to TxDOT. As time permits, enter past evaluations your department has performed.

San Antonio DRE School:
The San Antonio Police Department hosted their first DRE class since 1995. SAPD was able to send eleven officers and is now in the midst of restructuring their DWI unit to incorporate several of those officers into the division to assist with evaluations. San Antonio will increase their DRE officers from five to fifteen upon the completion of this class.

The class of twenty four was comprised of officers from San Antonio PD, Garland PD, Beaumont PD, several County Sheriff's and Constables, along with Texas DPS. At this time, field certifications for those who attended this class are still in progress, at the city jail. The final knowledge exam is scheduled to take place May 1, 1998. Plans are already being made to possibly return to San Antonio and conduct another class next year. The department has a goal of twenty to twenty five DRE officers.

Congratulations to John Muzny, Agency Coordinator, for San Antonio. With out John's dedication to the DRE Program and determination to keep it going this course would have never taken place. It should not go unmentioned that John received tremendous support from his new traffic supervisor, Lt. Cisneros. After visiting with Lt. Cisneros myself, I found he is dedicated to offering the citizens of San Antonio the most innovative methods of deterring impaired drivers from operating vehicles. Again, thank you SAPD for hosting the 2nd class for 1998!

All of the following DRE Instructors did a great job and should be recognized for their superb efforts:
Course Manager, John Muzny, San Antonio PD
Charles Avery, Dallas PD
Dale Barnard, Dallas PD
Dan Webb, Texas DPS
Lisa Jardine, Beaumont PD
David Clare, San Antonio PD

TEEX Law Enforcement Training Division Texas A&M University System DRE E-Mail Bulletin Board:
Join the DRE e-mail list, the subscription is free and is a valuable resource for the DRE officer. All you need to do is make a written request to be added to the e-mailing list at:
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8862/Form.htm.

REMEMBER:
To prepare for your DRE Recertification Class you will need to review the drug matrix and general indicators of impairment. DON'T FORGET ... Bring an updated resume and rolling long with you to class, see you there ...

DRE Instructor Update
September 21, 1998
and
DRE Instructor School
September 14 - 18, 1998
Location: TEEX Law Enforcement Training
For more info contact State Coordinator