News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and MADD announce results of July 12 multi-agency drunk-driving patrols

Posted: July 13, 2008, 9:23 a.m.

• Nationally, impaired drivers continue to kill someone every 30 minutes.
• Only one arrest is made for every 772 occurrences of driving under the influence.
• One in three Americans will be affected by this violent crime in their lifetime.

• Canby PD
• CCSO-City of Happy Valley PD
• Lake Oswego PD
• Milwaukie PD
• Molalla PD
• Oregon State Police
• Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC)
• Oregon City PD
• Portland Police Bureau
• West Linn PD
• Clackamas County District Attorney's Office
• C-COM (9-1-1)
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

These enhanced patrols will focus on high-incident locations during weekend and evening hours. Alcohol-related crashes increase in frequency from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. -- with the highest frequency between 1 to 3 a.m.

"This increase can be associated with the hours that bars and taverns close for the evening,” says CCSO Lt. Graham Phalen, lead coordinator of the patrol effort. "OLCC licenses these establishments, and will assist with intelligence and enforcement during the patrols."

The scope of the project requires extensive planning and collaboration. Personnel on hand include patrol staff, as well as support services (including corrections and reserve units) to assist with detention and booking.

Over 50 staff persons were on hand for the June 21 kick-off event -- with future patrols set to occur throughout the summer months. On Saturday, July 12, another successful saturation patrol mission was conducted in Clackamas County. In addition, a BUII (boating under the influence) was conducted on nearby waterways.

Patrols will continue this summer throughout the county. (Statistical data for the July 12 mission is itemized below.)

In Clackamas County, over 10 percent of total reported crashes are alcohol-related, with an increase during the summer months. The county employs several strategies to help reduce impaired driving -- including minor sales checks, DUII Intensive supervision programs, and impact panels.

Clackamas Safe Communities also offers projects focused on the elimination of impaired driving. One program, the Teen Triple Threat, invited local high-school students to create safe driving messages about the dangers of drinking and driving. Safe Communities also assisted with funding for the enhanced patrols. More information about the Safe Communities program can be found at www.ClackamasSafeCommunities.org.

PRELIMINARY STATS FROM THE JULY 12 DUII PATROLS IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY:

• 44 personnel from 10 agencies
• 22 dedicated DUII enforcement personnel and 22 vehicles
• 6 Marine BUII enforcement personnel and 5 boats
• 17 support staff
• Total of 395 man-hours dedicated during operation

• 483 boat and vehicle stops (198 motor vehicles, 285 boats)
• 13 DUII arrests
• 2 BUII arrests
• 3 MIP citations
• 1 criminal driving arrest
• 1 alcohol-related probation violation arrest
• 101 citations
• 206 warnings
• 25 towed motor vehicles
• 2 towed boats
• 5 Marine rescues
• 1 rape victim identified and transported as result of vehicle stop

Comments by CCSO Lt. Graham Phalen:

The July 12th operation was a little smaller [than the June 21 operation]. However, we still got quite a few impaired drivers off the street.

This was another successful night, and the teamwork was fantastic. MADD and Emmanuel Hospital kept us all well-fed and hydrated, Clackamas Fire gave us a cool place to get out of the heat, and the Oregon State Police gave us the use of their mobile DUII testing vehicle, which was a huge benefit!

Thanks so much for the commitment of time, resources and some amazingly talented and dedicated officers. 

[END]

EARLIER: Sheriff’s Office announces multi-agency DUII saturation patrols 

Contact info:

Lt. Graham G. Phalen
Mission Coordinator /Watch Commander
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office