Richfield DWI Officer Speaks Out: 'I Prevented Someone From Being Injured'

Richfield is fortunate enough to have a dedicated DWI patrol. She began as Richfield Police Department’s first dedicated full-time DWI patroller in July of 2015.

Her goal for 2017 is to take 100 impaired drivers off the roads. As of Jan. 31, she said she was "at 10 DWI arrests" in a recent update on Facebook.

"The reasoning for using the word 'impaired' rather than drunk is that it is inclusive of drivers that are impaired by other substances such as marijuana, prescription pills, or other controlled substances that cause the driver to be unsafe on the roadway," she added.

One of her arrests in January was a driver suspected to be impaired by Xanax. "He was going approximately 20 mph over the speed limit, passing my squad car, and then nearly rear ending two different vehicles."

"His reasoning for nearly striking the vehicles was that they were in his way," she said. "He was barely able to hold himself upright and forgot things nearly immediately after being informed."

"This was one of those arrests where I know I prevented someone from being injured and is a great example of how abuse of prescription drugs or not following the warning labels can result in severe consequences."

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