The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office and PA DUI Association hosted a three-day training intended for newer, less experienced officers to sharpen their skills in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).

The training began Monday and concluded Wednesday at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center.

Students are trained with curriculum through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) and are instructed on DUI detection as well as proper administration and evaluation of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.

Assistant District Attorneys teach sessions on pertinent case law and provide updates to the current legal environment for the SFST.

ADA Kyle Linardo, who is also an SFST Practitioner and Instructor, assisted during the entire three-day course. He presented a moot court demonstration where officers were called to testify and subsequently cross examined by a licensed defense attorney. Linardo’s presentation also included lessons in evidence gathering, report writing, and trial preparation.

This specific course featured a live-alcohol workshop where students administered the three standardized field sobriety tests on impaired volunteer subjects that have consumed alcohol in a controlled environment. All volunteers must provide the name of the sober driver picking them up at the end of the training in advance; the volunteer drinker is signed over after the designated driver has appeared in person to pick them up.

“We’re taking the volunteers’ breath-alcohol content every so often to make sure they stay at a level that’s reasonable and good for our students to get tested on,” Linardo said. “Then they are going to be put through field sobriety tests so that the students can see what an impaired person looks like, just like when they are out in the field.”

Two Lancaster County businesses, Bespoke Brewing Company of Strasburg, and Uncommon Pizza of Lititz sponsored the event and provided the alcohol and food for the volunteers.

“As a licensee with the Liquor Control Board, we’re committed to responsible alcohol service,” Uncommon Pizza manager Grant Keener said. “It’s a way to promote responsible alcohol service while also supporting the community.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.