PCSD 3-night patrol focuses on entirety of Putnam County

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department conducted a DUI and criminal enforcement patrol from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. each night on July 7, 8, and 9.

The three-night patrol focused on three areas -- the apprehension of impaired drivers and suspended drivers as well as rural area crime prevention/criminal apprehension.

On each night of the patrol, eight or nine deputies patrolled virtually every area of Putnam County with emphasis on the most rural areas of the county.

"While rural crime prevention patrols are part of the daily assignments of our deputies," Sheriff Scott Stockton said, "these saturation patrols are a tool to apply additional pressure on those who would engage in crimes against the property of others or could injure citizens."

As a result of the county-wide canvas, deputies netted five driving while intoxicated arrests, one drug-related arrest, six driving with suspended license arrests, 22 traffic citations and 182 traffic warnings.

Sheriff Stockton indicated the department has plans to continue these types of patrols throughout the summer in an ongoing effort to reduce rural crime and traffic-related incidents.

By conducting these patrols, it is hoped that drivers "think before they drink."