DRE Program

The Arizona Drug Evaluation and Classification program has received national acclaim for its success in identifying the drug impaired driver. The goal of this program is to train and certify law enforcement personnel as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). DREs are frequently called upon to differentiate between drug influence and medical and/or mental disorders. The certified DRE is an extremely valuable tool for combating the adverse impact of drug and alcohol impaired driving. DRE School is extremely demanding. To receive certification as a DRE, three phases of training must be completed. The following summarizes each phase.

PHASE I:
Phase I of the drug recognition training, consists of a two-day (16-hour) preschool. During this preschool, students are taught the definition of the term “drug” as it is used in the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, and become familiar with the techniques of the drug evaluation. Students also begin to learn the techniques and procedures for evaluating persons suspected of drug impairment.

PHASE II:
Phase II of training is a seven-day (56-hour) classroom program, during which students receive detailed instruction in the techniques of the drug evaluation examination as well as in physiology, the effects of drugs, and legal considerations. Upon completion of this phase of training, the student must pass a comprehensive written examination before proceeding to Phase III of training, the field certification.

PHASE III:
Phase III is the field certification. The field certification portions of training follow the completion of the classroom training, and are conducted at periodic intervals for the next sixty to ninety days. During this portion of the training, students, under the direction of certified instructors, evaluate subjects suspected of being impaired by drugs other than alcohol. After conducting, evaluating and documenting the results of at least twelve drug evaluations, and completing a comprehensive written examination, the student is certified as a Drug Recognition Expert.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the regulating and credentialing organization for the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program.

DRE certification is valid for two years. In order to maintain certification, DREs must recertify every two years.

For additional assistance please contact GOHS at 602-255-3216 or Contact the GOHS DRE Coordinator in your region for registration and questions.

 

Chwe

George Chwe

Mesa Police Department
State DRE Coordinator
(602) 359-6127

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Cotts

Dallas Cotts

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Phlebotomy Coordinator & East Valley Regional Coordinator
(602) 690-6707

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Price

Aaron Price

Goodyear Police Department
West Valley Regional DRE Coordinator
(480) 506-8324

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Humphrey

Tom Humphrey

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Northern AZ Regional DRE Coordinator
(928) 380-4011

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Clark

Charles "Chuck" Schmidlin

Southern AZ Regional DRE Coordinator
(520) 858-6912

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Gonzales

Michael Gonzales

Pima Community College Police Department
Southern Arizona PIO
 

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Good

Stacey Good

City of Mesa Prosecutor's Office
GOHS Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
 

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Barnes

Beth Barnes

City of Phoenix Prosecutor's Office
GOHS Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
 

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