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LANSING, MICH. Fifteen law enforcement officers from across Michigan have completed training and are now certified as Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) focused on combatting drug-impaired driving. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Organizational Development Division hosted the 17th Drug Recognition Expert School, which concluded Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Originally developed by the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1970s, the DRE program was created to address impaired drivers under the influence of drugs rather than alcohol. Today, it operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and several countries worldwide. Michigan adopted the program in 2009 and held its first DRE school in 2011.
DRE certification requires the successful completion of three phases of training including 72 hours of hands-on and classroom instruction where students learn to measure vital signs, evaluate pupil size under various lighting conditions, and conduct standardized impairment assessments. The final phase involves performing supervised evaluations and a comprehensive certification exam.
DRE schools are made possible through funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with instruction provided by experienced law enforcement professionals, prosecutors and subject matter experts from across Michigan.
This class represents agencies across the state, including:
- Auburn Hills Police Department
- Berrien County Sheriff’s Office
- Birmingham Police Department
- East Grand Rapids Department of Public Safety
- Eastpointe Police Department
- Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
- Michigan State Police Gladstone Post
- Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post
- Michigan State Police Lapeer Post
- Michigan State Police Negaunee Post
- Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post
- Michigan State Police Traverse City Post
- Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office
- Rochester Police Department
- Saginaw Township Police Department
With the addition of these 15 new DREs, there are now 142 statewide.
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Media Contact:
Sgt. Jim Janes, Michigan Drug Evaluation and Classification Program Coordinator, 269-921-5666 or [email protected]
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