Drug Recognition Expert Program

The Missouri Safety Center, located at UCM Dockery in Warrensburg, Missouri, is offering a grant opportunity through their Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program. This program is supported by the State of Missouri due to the significant number of fatalities caused by impaired drivers each year. The DRE program is part of the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP), which is recognized across all fifty states in the U.S., as well as in Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. The program aims to train police officers to detect and identify individuals under the influence of drugs, as well as the specific categories of drugs causing impairment. The purpose of the DRE program is to enhance highway safety by equipping officers with the skills necessary to recognize drug-impaired drivers. The training is rigorous and demands a high level of dedication. Officers who become certified as DREs are expected to conduct evaluations and assist other agencies with similar evaluations when possible. The program also offers an Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) course, which provides an intermediate level understanding of the impairing effects of drugs and alcohol, although it does not qualify officers as DREs. To be eligible for the DRE training, candidates must complete an application and meet specific requirements. Approved candidates will undergo two weeks of structured training, known as Phases I and II, followed by Field Certifications, or Phase III, which typically occur out of state. The upcoming DRE School is scheduled for October 21-22, 2025, and November 17-26, 2025, at the MSHP Academy in Jefferson City, Missouri. Field Certifications will take place from December 7-12, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The deadline for application submission is September 5, 2025. The evaluation results from 2022 indicate that a total of 766 evaluations were conducted, with substances identified including cannabis, depressants, stimulants, narcotic analgesics, polydrug use, and other substances. As of 2022, Missouri had 154 certified DREs, 36 certified DRE instructors, and 64 agencies with DREs. For more information or to apply, interested candidates can contact Robert Paul, the Statewide DRE/SFST Coordinator, at 660-543-4524 or via email at msc@ucmo.edu. The Missouri Safety Center can also be reached at 660-543-4834 for additional inquiries. This grant opportunity is ideal for law enforcement officers looking to specialize in drug recognition and contribute to improving road safety in Missouri.

The training is rigorous and demands a high level of dedication.