Cranford Police Department 2011 Annual Report - Cranford.com

DWI
Cranford Police Department Driving While Intoxicated Program
The number of alcohol related accidents
resulting in both fatal and serious injuries
continues to be a major focal point for law
enforcement throughout the country. Despite
the major changes made in New Jersey’s DWI
laws, the news media continually reminds us of
the deadly consequences of driving while under
the influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs. On
the local level we are not immune to this
problem. During the year 2011 we had, in
Cranford, 14 accidents (Four involving injury)
directly attributed to drunk drivers. There has
been a decrease in the number of alcohol
related accidents over the 15 we had in 2010. In
order to keep decreasing this number, the
Cranford Police Department will continue to
aggressively seek out and arrest those that
would drive through our community while under
the influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs.
Our officers are aware that there are certain
medical conditions that mimic the behaviors of a
drunk driver. Because of this it becomes
necessary to have highly trained officers that are
capable of detecting those drivers that are under
the influence of alcohol and/or narcotics and
those whose actions may be caused by one of
several common medical conditions. This is
where the use of Standardized Field Sobriety
Testing and breath test machines such as the
Alcotest 7110 MK III-C play a significant role in
aiding the officer in making a determination as
to whether or not someone is under the
influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs, or is
perhaps suffering from a medical condition.
The Alcotest 7110 MK III-C is an instrument that
measures the alcoholic content of a person’s
blood through analysis of a breath sample. The
Alcotest is a computerized instrument that uses
two different measuring systems to analyze
breath alcohol. Infrared spectroscopy and
electro chemical cell technology are both used in
conjunction with technologically advanced
computer technology to obtain highly accurate
breath test readings.
Upon the conclusion of 2011 the department
had twenty-two (21) officers certified as Alcotest
7110 MK III-C operators, all of whom were
trained by the Office of the Attorney General of
the State of New Jersey. Instruction on Field
Sobriety Testing as well as the Alcotest is
conducted solely by the New Jersey State Police
Alcohol/Drug Test Unit. Currently the following
officers are qualified to administer breath tests:
Lt. Stephen Wilde
Det./Lt. James Wozniak
Lt. Robert Colaneri
Det./Lt. Edward Davenport
Sgt. Anthony Dobbins
Sgt. Thomas Feeney
Det./Sgt. Craig Marino
Det./Sgt. Gerard Quinn
Sgt. Frank Williams
Sgt. Guy Patterson
Det./Sgt. Christopher Polito
Det./Sgt. Richard Vitale
Det. John Swandrak
Det. Robert Montague
Det. Michael Andrews
Det. Steven R Toy
Det. Ryan Greco
Ptl. Peter Graczyk
Ptl. Derek Farbanec
Ptl. Thomas Bell
Ptl. Brian Wagner
As in previous years this agency stressed to our
officers the need to detect and apprehend those
driving while intoxicated.
During the year 2011 these efforts resulted in
eighty five (85) arrests being made for
Driving While Intoxicated within the Township of
Cranford.
Of the 85 arrests, 16 refused to submit to breath
testing and 2 had blood drawn. This shows a
Cranford Police Department—2011 Annual Report 48