UD Police Office Patrick McCloskey

Intensive training

UD police officer earns certification as drug recognition expert

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11:48 a.m., Nov. 24, 2014--University of Delaware Police Officer Patrick McCloskey is one of nine Delaware law enforcement officers to complete an intensive training course to become a certified drug recognition expert (DRE).

A DRE is a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol. 

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All DRE officers work statewide and can be called out to any DUI stop if a driver has failed the standardized field sobriety tests but does not have a measurable breath alcohol concentration. The DRE can perform a battery of tests to determine if other drugs may be causing the impairment. 

The DRE training process requires nearly 100 hours of classroom and field training, and officers must have completed the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) course and have SFST field experience. To become DRE certified, officers must attend a two-day intensive pre-school and a seven-day classroom training school, complete the field certification process and score 100 percent on the final exam. 

For more information about the DRE program, click here

About Patrick McCloskey

A UD alumnus, McCloskey was hired by UD Police in January 2008. After completing the New Castle County Police Academy, he has served in several capacities, including the patrol shift, the department's first Community Oriented Policing (COP) Squad (now known as the Community Resource Unit), and the Mobile Response Team, which includes community outreach, bicycle patrol and developing partnerships with other police agencies.

Currently, McCloskey is assigned to the K-9 Unit. 

McCloskey has received two departmental commendations, one in 2011 and the second in 2014. In 2013, he was awarded the department’s first Impaired Driving Award for efforts toward apprehending drunk drivers. He received this award again in 2014.

A sworn member of the New Castle County DUI Checkpoint Strikeforce, he leads the department in impaired driving arrests.

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