Sheridan’s greatest threat to public safety: impaired driving

According to the Wyoming Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving more than 1 million drivers are arrested in the U.S. every year for impaired driving, one-third of those drivers arrested for drunk driving are repeat offenders and every day in the U.S. 27 people die from drunk-driver crashes.

Sheridan Police Department Chief Travis Koltiska refers to impaired driving as the greatest physical threat to the safety of Sheridan residents. When comparing the number of homicides to impaired driving fatalities in the Cowboy State, the Chief said the numbers demand action by those who carry the shield in Wyoming.

The Council on Impaired Driving has found that an average drunk driver drove drunk 80 times before being arrested for the offense. Captain Ringley states he would rather prevent crime than arrest or cite residents for offenses. Through a little number crunching and record reviews, ensuring patrol officers are in the right place at the right time, DWUIs can be avoided by motivating impaired residents to make the right decision not to get behind the wheel. 

SPD leadership emphasizes that the department is not against the legal and safe use of alcohol, but is committed to reducing the amount of DWUIs in Sheridan. 

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