A Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputy has a new certificate under his belt after graduating from a three-week training course this spring. Sheriff Ken Pingrey says Deputy Gunner Gilland is now a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), meaning he can identify signs that an individual has recently consumed some form of an intoxicant.
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Pingrey says the course is offered through the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) for veteran law enforcement officers wishing to add to their in-the-field toolbelts. The certification process includes classroom training at the DRE school and then hands-on training in Jacksonville, Fla.
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Gilland was initially chosen for the course in 2020, but it was cancelled then due to COVID lockdowns. Pingrey says he was set on finishing the course, even if it was years later than originally planned.
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Pingrey says having a DRE-trained deputy on staff improves public safety, both in the courtroom and in medical emergencies.
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Pingrey adds that he and his staff consistently look for new and innovative ways to serve the public better and assist the county’s other law enforcement agencies.