Drug Recognition Expert
(DRE)

Currently the Bridgewater Police has one certified D.R.E. Officer. Police Departments looking for the D.R.E. Officer should contact the Communications Bureau at (908) 722-4111 x. 0 and speak with the on-duty supervisor to enquire of his availability.

The Drug Recognition Expert program and procedures were initially developed in the 1970's by the Los Angeles Police Department. This procedure trains officers to use a standardized twelve-step evaluation process that allows the officer to determine whether the suspect is under the influence of drugs, and to determine the category of drug that is causing the observable impairment. The twelve-step procedure also allows  the officer to rule in or out many medical conditions, such as illness or injury, which may be contributing to the subject's impairment. ^[1]

_{[1] New Jersey Association of Drug Recognition Experts}