LaVergne gains special Drug Recognition Expert

May 15, 2014 at 07:41 pm by bryan


La Vergne Police Officer John Fesmire has joined the elite number of law enforcement officials recognized as a “Drug Recognition Expert.”  Officer Fesmire is one of 130 police officials in the state who have earned this distinction.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police oversees the process that includes nine days of training, plus field certification. Drug Recognition Experts are trained to recognize when someone is incapacitated by various types of drugs, including central nervous system depressants, central nervous system stimulants, hallucinogens, dissociative anesthetics, narcotic analgesics, cannabis, and inhalants. Certified officers are up-to-date on drug trends and fully trained in identifying the drug family being used by measuring muscle tone, pupil response to light conditions, pulse, and more.

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“Like all cities, we do have to address issues that arise from drug use. Through the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, we now have an officer who is a trained expert able to differentiate whether someone is in trouble because of a medical issue or if someone is impaired by drugs” said Police Chief Mike Walker. “I am proud of Officer Fesmire. He has been a remarkable addition to our Crime Suppression Unit.”

Following the scientific analysis, Officer Fesmire will be able to testify as a certified expert witness in court. Officer Fesmire has been with the La Vergne Police Department since December, 2012.

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