DWI Task Force earning its keep in first 8 months

Deputy James Mariano is part of a two-man DWI specialty team that was started in April, 2005. The team logged 121 DWI-specific arrests, 266 total arrests and issued 864 citations between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2005. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

GALLUP — It's been a productive eight months for the McKinley County Sheriff's Department.

The office's two-person DWI Task Force, funded through a grant from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, has made more than 130 DWI arrests since its inception on April 1.

"So far (it's been) successful," said Deputy Tom Mumford.

Mumford and his partner, Deputy James Mariano, are dedicated full-time to the capture of drunk-drivers. This is in addition to any arrests made by other officers.

The two have also made 25 other arrests, such as possession of drugs and domestic assault. Add that to the number of warrant arrests and revoked drivers license arrests, and the DWI Task Force has arrested more than 200 people during the past eight months and has given more than 860 citations.

This is the first grant the NHSTA has given as part of a demonstration project.

Under the grant, five of New Mexico's counties that rank the highest among drunk driving offenses and the Navajo Nation are set to receive $150,000 per year for three years.

The money is used to hire two full-time officers dedicated to the arrests of drunk drivers for each area.

While New Mexico has seen a decrease in DWI-related injuries during the past four years, fatalities related to DWI are on the rise. In 2000, there were 194 DWI-related fatalities. In 2004, that number rose to 219.

This year marks the second for McKinley County under the federal grant.

Other counties include Bernalillo, Doa Ana, Rio Arriba, and San Juan.

Unlike a pilot project, the NHSTA stays involved with the counties to see what works and what doesn't for the program. Once the grant has ended, the project is expected to be duplicated in other states.

Doa Ana is similar to the Navajo Nation in that both programs just got off the ground late last year.

Sgt. Walter Roof of the Doa Ana Sheriff's Department said that within the month of December, his DWI duo made 28 arrests.

In November, Roof said, his officers made 42 DWI arrests.

Like McKinley County, Roof said his officers are out during peak hours, when people are known to drink.

Like McKinley County, his officers patrol Wednesday through Saturday.

"The trends these days are changing when people go out and drink," Roof said. "It was traditionally Friday and Saturday."

Because of the trends, Roof said the DWI Task Force patrols on alternate Mondays and Tuesdays.

"The officers have done really well so far," he said.