impaired driving enforcement unit (ideu)

Mission Statement:

“It is the mission of the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit to actively enforce state and municipal laws that work to counter the problem of drug and alcohol-impaired drivers in Anchorage.  Through the implementation of training, technology, and fair, consistent enforcement,  IDEU will pursue an aggressive strategy to reduce alcohol-related fatal traffic collisions and promote public awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.”

History

In 2015, then-APD Traffic Sergeant Roy LeBlanc (now retired) was attending monthly occupant protection and impaired driving task force meetings with representatives from various organizations around Alaska, including the Alaska Highway Safety Office (AHSO).  AHSO, a sub-component of the Alaska Department of Transportation, is the source of federal grant money that funds high-visibility OUI enforcement and Click it or Ticket details for APD. The AHSO director, Tammy Kramer and Sgt. LeBlanc had a discussion about the impaired driving epidemic in Anchorage and a lack of full-time OUI enforcement within APD due to shortages in funding and manpower. Thus, with federal financial support from AHSO and a staffing commitment from then-APD Chief Chris Tolley, IDEU was born in August of 2016.  Six officers, a sergeant, and a clerk were assigned to the unit after a department selection process.  In addition to their regular duties, IDEU officers are responsible for both academy and in-service OUI enforcement-related training at APD. The unit is currently staffed with one lieutenant, one sergeant, six officers, and a unit clerk.