A York County Sheriff’s Office deputy has earned South Carolina’s Drug Recognition Expert of the Year award for the second time in his career, the York County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release posted to its website in early May 2026.
The York County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the achievement in a news release, noting that the honor represents recognition by the state’s law enforcement community for excellence in identifying drug-impaired drivers and suspects — a skill set that has grown increasingly important as opioid and stimulant-related impairment cases have increased across South Carolina over the past decade.
Drug Recognition Experts, commonly known as DREs, are law enforcement officers who receive specialized training to detect signs of impairment in drivers and individuals who are under the influence of drugs other than alcohol. Traditional breathalyzer tests do not detect drug impairment, making DRE-certified officers critical to roadside enforcement.
South Carolina’s DRE program is administered through the SC Department of Public Safety and follows the 12-step standardized protocol developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Officers pursuing DRE certification must complete classroom training, field training involving the evaluation of actual impaired subjects, and an examination before receiving certification.
The award recognizes not just successful certification, but performance in the field — including the number of evaluations completed, successful prosecution outcomes, and training contributions. Winning the honor twice is notable, as the recognition is typically distributed across the state’s large pool of DRE-certified officers.
York County’s public safety challenges mirror those of many fast-growing suburban counties near major metro areas. With I-77 serving as a major north-south corridor connecting Charlotte to Columbia, York County sees significant traffic enforcement activity. DUI arrests are among the most common bookings at the York County Detention Center, where overnight booking records from May 11-12 showed a Rock Hill resident booked on a first-offense DUI charge.
The York County Sheriff’s Office serves the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as the municipalities of York, Clover, Fort Mill, and other smaller communities, while the Rock Hill Police Department handles enforcement within Rock Hill city limits. The two agencies collaborate on major investigations and drug enforcement operations.
Residents are encouraged to report suspected impaired driving by calling 911 or the York County Sheriff’s non-emergency line. The Rock Hill Police Department also accepts non-emergency tips at its main line.
