“SPRING BREAK” DWI ENFORCEMENT / “DESERT OPERATIONS” RESULTS

                       3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938         

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS     

Direct: (915) 538-2119

Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)

EMAIL: jtovar@epcounty.com

Release Date & Time: Thursday, March 26, 2009 2:25 PM  

WHO: EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

• SPECIAL TRAFFIC INVESTIGATORS (STI)
• STRIKE TEAM

WHAT: “SPRING BREAK” DWI ENFORCEMENT / “DESERT OPERATIONS” RESULTS

WHEN: MARCH 2009 

WHERE: EL Paso County, TX

 WHY: RESULTS  

 DWI ENFORCEMENT

EL PASO, TX- The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Section in coordination with Patrol Deputies conducted a DWI Enforcement  wave during the period of March 6, 2009 thru March 20, 2009. During that time, extra officers were utilized to focus DWI patrols within high risk locations during times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent. Our goal was to reduce the number of fatal or serious injury collisions. Working during hours determined to be peak impaired driving hours, Deputies dispatched for 6 nights, 8 hours a night to various locations within El Paso County, TX. No major traffic accidents were reported during this time period in the unincorporated areas of the county. The DWI enforcement was funded through the TEXAS TRAFFIC SAFETY eGRANT She-STEP-2009.

RESULTS  ARE  AS FOLLOWS: 

DESERT OPERATIONS

EL PASO, TX- During “Spring Break" week, the Sheriff’s Office Strike Team conducted several “Desert Operations” which consisted of High Intensity Patrols of desert areas in El Paso County, TX. These areas included the desert area behind the SAC, Red Sands, & other undisclosed locations where recent activity such as shootings, underage drinking parties & other crimes have occurred.

12 TOTAL ARRESTS WERE MADE AS A RESULT OF THESE DESERT OPERATIONS

  ARRESTS MADE: 

• Evading Arrest or Detention (vehicle)
• Minor Consumption of Alcohol
• Minor Consumption of Alcohol
• Minor Consumption of Alcohol
• Minor Consumption of Alcohol
• Abandoning or Endangering a Child (2 counts)
• Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces
• Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces
• Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces
• Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor (2 counts)
• 1 Arrested for outstanding SO criminal warrant (Assault Causing Bodily Injury)
• 1 Arrested for outstanding SO traffic warrants (4) 

  CITATIONS: 

• 6 JUVENILES for Minor Possession of Alcohol
• 2 JUVENILES for Minor Consumption of Alcohol
• 1 JUVENILE for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• 8 Traffic citations issued

END OF NEWS RELEASE

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4^th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.