Super DUI Cops

The S.C. Department of Public Safety held its 5th Annual DUI Enforcement Recognition Ceremony in Columbia today according to SC Now. Congratulations to the Conway Police Department for its award for Agency of the Year in the 51-100 officer category. Several local officers received individual awards.

Officer of the Year: Conway Police Senior Master Patrol Officer Josh Scott.

Trooper of the Year: Highway Patrol Trooper First Class Douglas J. Sarvis, Horry County.

The following received awards for DUI arrests:

Bronze Award: Conway Police Patrol Officer Justin Strickland for 20 DUI arrests

Gold category awards for 50 or more DUI arrests were given to Conway Police Senior Master Patrol Officers Chad Causey and Josh Scott for 60 and 74 DUI arrests, respectively; Horry County Police Lance Cpl. Jack Johnson Jr. for 57 DUI arrests; S.C. Highway Patrol Troop 5 Trooper 1st Class Douglas J. Sarvis for 167 DUI arrests; and Myrtle Beach Police Patrolman 1st Class Pete Schmidt for 139 DUI arrests.

Congratulations gentlemen, that’s a lot of arrests!

Speaking of a lot of arrests, S.C. Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster said at the ceremony that DUI arrests are up about 30% in the last year. One way to get those numbers up is to increase roadblocks:

During the past two weekends, the highway patrol hosted a DUI blitz called “Operation Downtown,” which posted check-points on main roadways exiting Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville. Although the checkpoints were only operated for a 2-hour period that past two Saturday nights, nearly 100 DUI arrests were made.

Now, that’s a lot of DUI arrests. 100 in 2 hours. That’s almost one arrest per minute.  Remember though, it’s only arrests – not convictions.