DECATUR — The Decatur Police Department’s record for driving under the influence arrests is the highest in the state among municipal police departments, again.
The municipal police recorded 353 arrests for 2021, recorded by The Alliance Against Drunk Driverswhich describes itself as a “citizen activist group” watching the numbers.
And Decatur Police also topped the AAIM DUI arrest rankings the previous year, with 344 arrests.
The AAIM also reported that the Macon County Sheriff’s Office did well in total arrests for DUI in 2021, finishing fourth among sheriff’s departments with 218 arrests.
McLean County came fifth out of 179 arrests, while Bloomington had 252 impaired driving arrests in 2021, ranking 6th on the list. Bloomington was also No. 6 the previous year, with 254 drunk driving arrests in 2020.
Chicago, due to its large size, is judged in its own category, and the Windy City saw its drunk driver arrests drop 27.6% to 1,622 in 2021 from 2,240 in 2020.
Decatur Police say 5 people were arrested for impaired driving over St. Patrick’s Day weekend
The number of impaired driving arrests by Illinois state police, on the other hand, rose 10.9% to 6,596 in 2021 from 5,947 the previous year.
And while the AAIM wants all arrest numbers to be even higher, it says the totals obtained are important because they represent unsafe drivers removed from the roads.
“Progress has been made to help eliminate the ravages of impaired driving in Illinois,” said Rita Kreslin, executive director of AAIM. “Although frustratingly slow, many lives have been saved.”
Decatur Police Chief Shane Brandel said removing DUI drivers remains a top priority. “I am proud of the men and women of DPD for their efforts,” he added. “It’s their accomplishment.”
The AAIM said the single cop with the most DUI arrests in 2021 was Illinois State Trooper Eric David with 298.
A look back at the Decatur Police over the years 🚨
1911
Third police department photo from 1911: front row, Wilson, Royse, Kossick, Stone, Donahue; back row, Dayton, Harding, Imboden.
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1911
One of three photos of some of the 1911 Police Department personnel: McDermitt, Delaney, McDaniels, Pound, Brunsfield, Kemp.
1911
1911 Police Department: Front Row, Stephens, Glasgow, Lewshinski, Welty; back row, Price, Wheeler, Park.
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1924
1924: Decatur Police Department front row, left to right, Mayor Elmer Elder, Capt. RA Thornell, CP Elder, Deputy Chief Scott Gulliford, Sgt. Fred Meece, John Fink; second row, WM Park, Con Doherty, Sgt. TJ Collins, Sgt. Stephen Wood, Harry Lovejoy, CE Martin, George Geer and Frank Bunkle; third row, RE Pound, Ben Taylor, Frank Dennis, Carl Phillips, WR Adams, EW Larrick, Virgil Belcher, CA Dickerson; front row, DE Baucom, BT Perkins, JH Wiggins, CC Aydelott, Chief Omer Davenport, Robert Hankins, WM Markwell, CT Allen, John Higgins, Police Matron Mrs Myrtle Edwards.
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1934
1934: The new 85-foot tower that will carry overhead wires for the police broadcast system is hoisted into place.
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1939
1939: This three-wheeled motorcycle, equipped with a radio, enters regular service. Harry Moss is in the driver’s seat, Homer Ritchie sits in the rear compartment, and chef HJ Schepper stands behind the machine.
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1941
1941: Decatur Police Department left to right patrolmen Clyde Freeman, Earl Myers, Charles Kemper, Arthur Travis, Cass Runyan, Sgt. Louis Rost, Chief HJ Schepper, Mayor Charles E. Lee, Lt. CL Lycan, Patrolmen Ralph Rutherford, Homer Ritchie, Harold Buechler and Frank James.
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1942
1942: Traffic patrolman Arthur V. Travis was not a popular figure with motorists. When he was on vacation, there was a sharp reduction in traffic stops.
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1951
1951: The Decatur Police Department’s second shift includes, seated left to right, Horace Hoff, Ed Speaker, Burns Long, George Jewell, Bill Fitzgerald and George Smith. Standing with Lt. Otto Salfeski, left, Sgt. WE Tapscott and Detective CW Henry.
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1960
1960: More modern appearance in 1960. Six officers in the front row carry clubs, which were later discontinued.
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1977
1977: The Decatur Police Department shooting team includes, from left, Dave Cox, Gordon Bell, Leo Dauer, Tom Butts, Dave Leonard, Charles Boland and Dale Traughber.
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1990
1990: Curt Johnson and Kent Pope stop at the corner of Macon and Crea streets, the center of the neighborhood they are patrolling on foot.
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Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid
