A Lubbock Police unit which focused on lowering DWI arrests has closed down. LPD decided to shut down their traffic enforcement division on February 22.
“By closing down this traffic unit all it really did was put these resources back on regular patrol and responding to calls for service,” said Lt. Ray Mendoza.
The unit was created three years ago by former police chief, Roger Ellis, to help bring down DWI cases across Lubbock.
“Chief thought it be better to do it this way and reassign the officers and put them in strategic locations where the crimes and DWI’s are occurring,” said Lt. Mendoza.
More than 100 DWI cases have been reported this year by Lubbock Police according to RAIDS online. Less than two months ago Chief Greg Stevens made the decision to disband the unit..
“By taking the traffic unit down it did not mean that we don’t have anyone out there checking for DWI,” said Lt. Mendoza.
According to RAIDS online the department has not seen a rise in DWI cases.
LPD said every officer is trained to make a DWI arrest and none of the officers were demoted when the unit closed, they were just re-assigned to different departments.
“I can be driving home and spot something that could be an impaired driver, and I myself could make a traffic stop,” said Lt. Mendoza.
Lubbock Police Unit Focusing On DWI’s Shuts Down
