SPD and SMH Trauma Program want residents to get home safely this holiday season

The Sheridan Police Department and Sheridan Memorial Hospital have joined forces against driving under the influence. 

According to SPD Chief Travis Koltiska Sheridan police issued 197 DUIs in 2018, 242 in 2019 and 195 to date in 2020. The three year average for 2017-19 amounts to 216 DUIs a year in the City of Sheridan alone.  

DUI accidents are entirely preventable and during COVID-19 could tie up hospital resources that could be used elsewhere in hospital operations.  

Because of the high numbers of DUIs, the Sheridan PD and SMH Trauma Program have joined forces to educate the public and encourage Sheridan residents to plan for a ride home.

During an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan PD Lieutenant Tom Ringley told listeners the campaign is not discouraging residents from enjoying a drink this time of year, but to plan ahead should they choose to drink. 

According to the Wyoming Governor’s Council on Imparied Driving, the average drunk has driven drunk 80 times before being arrested and one-third of drivers arrested for drunk driving are repeat offenders.