Last week, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputy Chad Johnson completed advanced training and is now a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) for the state of Colorado.
Deputy Johnson’s certification supports the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing mission to reduce traffic fatalities, enhance Investigative efforts, and elevate safety for motorists, passengers, and pedestrians throughout the Pikes Peak region. He joins Traffic Unit Deputy Joshua Offutt, who earned his DRE certification in 2025.
Together, Deputies Johnson and Offutt are among only 125 certified DREs in Colorado. This elite group is available to deploy statewide, upon request, to assist law enforcement agencies with impaired-driving investigations.
Funding for Deputy Johnson’s training and certification was provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is a law enforcement officer who has completed all phases of the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP), as established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). DREs are specially trained to detect and identify drug-impaired drivers and determine the category or categories of substances causing impairment.
“I am elated Deputy Johnson has earned his certification as a Drug Recognition Expert for our agency and community,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “Deputy Johnson consistently demonstrates dedication to DUI enforcement and works tirelessly to make our roads safer for everyone. This training strengthens our ability and our partner agencies to properly identify drug or alcohol-impaired drivers.
“I thank our partners at the Colorado Department of Transportation for their continued support of our mission- to keep Colorado road users safe- and congratulate Deputy Johnson on completing this critical, high-level training.”
To learn more about DRE certification, click here.