Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Jon Willing, Sun Media COPS WAIT FOR DRUG RULE Ottawa Police Training To Spot High Drivers Will Wait For Law's Passage With only 47 drug recognition experts trained across Ontario, a course next fall hopes to graduate more officers to the small list of specialized officers who can tell if drivers are high. But some police services, like Ottawa's, are apprehensive about sending cops away for training when federal legislation on drug impaired driving hasn't even passed yet. RCMP Cpl. Evan Graham, the national manager of the drug recognition program, expects to have up to 28 cops attending the course in September and October at the Ontario Police College. Graham is also hoping for another similar-sized class near the end of the year, which means the number of drug recognition experts across Ontario could more than double by the end of December. There are also classes happening in Manitoba, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Graham said. There are currently about 300 drug recognition experts in Canada. EXPERIENCED OFFICERS Course organizers say the ideal candidates for the drug recognition training have between three and 10 years of policing experience because the officers have experience with impaired driving investigations. The years of experience also mean the officers will stay on as cops long enough to justify the cost of the training. Detecting drugged drivers is largely based on visual assessment. Police researchers in Canada have been testing various roadside screening devices, but they haven't found technology that fits the needs of police forces. Proposed legislation, if passed, would allow police to demand a bodily fluid sample from a person suspected of impaired driving by a drug. Graham said police continue to lay charges using their drug recognition expertise, but the proposed law will "make our job easier." Police don't know the scope of the drug-driving landscape in Canada because they don't have the law to work with yet, Graham said. Staff Sgt. Rick Lavigne, with Ottawa police's public safety unit, said the eight drug recognition experts on staff are "good for now," but if the proposed legislation passes, the forces will need as many as possible. But until the time comes when the law makes it easier for police to enforce drugged driving, Lavigne said he can't afford to sink resources into more drug recognition training for Ottawa cops. Lavigne said he knows about the fall drug recognition seminar, but noted he's more focused on keeping the 65 positions filled for breathalyser technicians, police experts who test suspects for alcohol consumption. Many of the technicians are being reassigned to other investigative divisions, Lavigne said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek