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Print This StoryDeForest Police Employ OWI Saturation Patrol
Dozens Of Officers Involved In Effort
UPDATED: 8:48 pm CST November 21,
2008
DeFOREST, Wis. -- DeForest police set up what they call an OWI saturation event to crack down on drunken driving Thursday night.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDozens of DeForest officers were involved in the highly visible effort, using flares and LED signs to target drivers who are breaking the law.Police said that during "Operation NightCap," they were carefully looking at every car that passed, watching for violations, so they could check the driver's sobriety."There's no question about what we're doing," said Lt. Daniel Furseth, of the DeForest Police Department. "We're looking for drunk drivers."Thursday night was the third concentrated OWI enforcement effort in DeForest -- all in the last month.Officer Matthew Ritzma has been a part of all of them, and he said that whether it's a headlight out or a missing front license plate, they pull over every driver who's breaking the law."It's any reason to stop the vehicle -- just like if we were out on a routine patrol," Ritzma said. "We aren't out looking to arrest drunk drivers. We're out to try and prevent the problem from getting out of hand."DeForest police got the idea from a department in Minnesota. A countywide effort there dramatically reduced drunken-driving fatalities."I think the message is getting out," said Dane County Supervisor Dennis O'Loughlin. "I know other members of the county board have said to me that they're thinking, 'Well, gee, we should be doing this in other communities.'"On the heels of a triple fatality involving alcohol that occurred just outside the village of DeForest last month, law enforcement leaders in DeForest said that something has to be done."You finally get to the point where enough is enough," Furseth said. "The carnage that we're seeing on the highways across the state, and in Dane County alone, something's got to be done."On Thursday night into Friday morning, police stopped 73 drivers, and cited three for drunken driving. It was the first time they've made any OWI arrests since starting this campaign.Village leaders said they hope their effort gets attention in other communities, because they said it's not a DeForest issue but rather a statewide issue.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDozens of DeForest officers were involved in the highly visible effort, using flares and LED signs to target drivers who are breaking the law.Police said that during "Operation NightCap," they were carefully looking at every car that passed, watching for violations, so they could check the driver's sobriety."There's no question about what we're doing," said Lt. Daniel Furseth, of the DeForest Police Department. "We're looking for drunk drivers."Thursday night was the third concentrated OWI enforcement effort in DeForest -- all in the last month.Officer Matthew Ritzma has been a part of all of them, and he said that whether it's a headlight out or a missing front license plate, they pull over every driver who's breaking the law."It's any reason to stop the vehicle -- just like if we were out on a routine patrol," Ritzma said. "We aren't out looking to arrest drunk drivers. We're out to try and prevent the problem from getting out of hand."DeForest police got the idea from a department in Minnesota. A countywide effort there dramatically reduced drunken-driving fatalities."I think the message is getting out," said Dane County Supervisor Dennis O'Loughlin. "I know other members of the county board have said to me that they're thinking, 'Well, gee, we should be doing this in other communities.'"On the heels of a triple fatality involving alcohol that occurred just outside the village of DeForest last month, law enforcement leaders in DeForest said that something has to be done."You finally get to the point where enough is enough," Furseth said. "The carnage that we're seeing on the highways across the state, and in Dane County alone, something's got to be done."On Thursday night into Friday morning, police stopped 73 drivers, and cited three for drunken driving. It was the first time they've made any OWI arrests since starting this campaign.Village leaders said they hope their effort gets attention in other communities, because they said it's not a DeForest issue but rather a statewide issue. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
