UMPD is proud to announce that Sgt. James Robb recently graduated from Pennsylvania Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) School #32, which was held in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in April / May 2024.  As a certified DRE, Sgt. Robb has the ability to recognize when an individual has been driving under the influence of drugs and to identify the category of drug(s) causing the impairment. 

This program, formally called the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, has been in existence since 1979 and is approved by the International Chiefs of Police Association.  Pennsylvania’s first DRE’s were certified in 2004, and the Pennsylvania DUI Association administers the state’s program.  Currently, there are less than 250 certified DRE Officers/Troopers in Pennsylvania.

The DRE Protocol is a standardized and systematic method of examining a Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) suspect to determine the following:

(1) whether or not the suspect is impaired; if so,

(2) whether the impairment relates to drugs or a medical condition; and if drugs,

(3) what category or combination of categories of drugs are the likely cause of the impairment.

The DRE Protocol is a compilation of tests that physicians have used for decades to identify and assess alcohol- and/or drug-induced impairment. Courts have closely examined the DRE Protocol and have found its methodology to be founded upon a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.

DRE School is a demanding and rigorous training program comprised of a mixture of classroom instruction and hands-on practice, including a weeklong field certification phase where students apply their newly learned skills to identify drug impairment.  The student also must pass a comprehensive final knowledge examination, which takes approximately eight (8) to twelve (12) hours to complete and obtain the written endorsement of two (2) certified DRE instructors to receive IACP credentials as a certified DRE.  In order to maintain certification, DREs must complete a prescribed number of evaluations, attend continuing education trainings, and instruct DUI-related courses to other Officers/Troopers.

Sergeant Robb has consistently led UMPD in DUI related arrests for the past several years and represents the department on the Eastern Montgomery County DUI Task Force. We are grateful to Sergeant Robb for his dedication in keeping our roads and residents safe. Please join us in congratulating Sergeant Robb for this outstanding accomplishment!