Weekend increase in patrolling expected

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

This weekend marks the third to last three-day weekend of the year with Labor Day looming on Monday, and Putnam County law enforcement agencies will be patrolling the streets in increased numbers.

On Aug. 25, state law enforcement implemented Operation Pullover. The program will continue through Sept. 10.

"We're going to increase patrol," Putnam County Sheriff Mark Frisbie told the BannerGraphic on Tuesday.

Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin echoed Frisbie's comments.

"Our guys will be out and about," Sutherlin said. "There's a better chance that people will be drinking and our guys know that."

The program, "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest," was established to combat impaired driving.

According to a press release provided by Putnam County Sheriff's Dept. Chief Deputy Doug Nally, 13,000 people were killed nationwide in highway crashes involving impaired drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

Nally said experience tells him impaired drivers will be on the roads this weekend.

"I would expect it," he said, referring to a time he remembered when at least 13 people were locked up for impaired driving after a holiday weekend.

However, he said specific areas would not be targeted.

"I wouldn't say we target certain areas," Nally said. "We just have more manpower."

Cloverdale Police Chief Charlie Hallam said CPD will be patrolling the streets this weekend, but not in increased numbers.

"We haven't seen anything that would warrant that," Hallam said. "But we're always vigilant in our patrols."

Frisbie added PCSD will not conduct sobriety checkpoints this weekend.

"We're not going to be doing any roadblocks," he said.

Sutherlin and Hallam added their respective agencies would not conduct checkpoints this weekend, but Hallam said CPD has conducted them in the past near Lieber State Recreation Area.

"We used to do checkpoints at Lieber," Hallam said. "But only because there are more visitors in your area. But in my perspective, this is like a normal holiday weekend."

Officials at the Indiana State Police Post in Putnam County could not be reached for comment.

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